.  Or  Cttff.  UBRAHY.  1.09 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'  WOOING 


A  TALE  OF 


BY 


T,  JENKINS  HAINS 

(AUTHOB  OF   v  CAPTAIN  GOBB,"  ETC.) 


P.  TENNYSON  NEELY 

NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 

1898 


COPYRIGHT,  1898, 

BY 

T.  JENKINS  HAINS. 


Richard  Judkins'  Wooing 


CHAPTER   I 

I  was  sitting  in  an  arm  chair  with  my 
feet  upon  the  hand  rail  of  the  verandah 
— very  much  at  my  ease  —  when  Major 
Bullbeggor  rode  around  the  bend  of  the  turn- 
pike and  came  into  view. 

I  watched  him  lazily  and  noted  the  action 
of  his  mare's  hind  feet  as  she  threw  little 
jets  of  dust  off  to  either  side.  The  jets 
mingled  together  and  formed  a  yellow  cloud 
in  the  rear,  through  which  could  be  seen 
the  grinning  teeth  of  Snake  in  the  Grass, 

(3) 

2130454 


4  RICHARD  JTJDKINS'  WOOING 

the  Major's  nigger,  who  always  acted  as  his 
body -servant.  Snake  was  mounted  ungrace- 
fully upon  an  old  spavined  clay  bank,  and 
he  came  loping  along  some  three  or  four 
fathoms  behind  his  master. 

The  sky  was  cloudless  and  the  warm  sun- 
shine appeared  to  annoy  the  Major. 

I  was  so  comfortable,  sitting  there  with 
the  buzzards  soaring  in  silent  circles  over- 
head and  listening  to  the  small  birds  sing- 
ing in  the  shrubbery  on  the  lawn,  that  I 
had  just  made  up  my  mind  to  hail  the 
horseman  and  ask  him  to  accept  the  hospi- 
talities of  Judkins'  Hall — and  all  who  have 
been  anywhere  in  the  state  know  the  repu- 
tation of  my  house  —  when  the  single- 
footing  mare  turned  sharply  from  the  main 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  6 

road  and  came  loping  up  the  carriage  drive 
toward  me. 

I  might  as  well  teU  you  now,  that  the 
Judkinses  were  never  of  a  nervous  or 
excitable  temperament.  Even  the  first  Rich- 
ard Judkins,  Earl  of  Belldon,  and  viscount 
Ansley,  was  noted  for  his  cool  and  calcu- 
lating disposition.  But  if  you  think  I  am 
overstepping  the  bounds  of  courtesy  by 
dwelling  too  much  upon  the  characteristics 
of  my  family,  I  will  say  that  I  only  do  so 
for  fear  someone  may  hear  this  who  is  a 
stranger  in  the  colonies,  and  who  might, 
therefore,  get  a  wrong  impression  of  the 
manners  bred  in  and  taught  to  a  Virginia 
gentleman. 

As  I  said  before,  I  am  not  nervous  ;  so  I 


6  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

sat  calmly  watching  the  Major  and  his 
servant  until  they  halted  within  ten  feet  of 
the  soles  of  my  shoes. 

"Good  morning,  Major  1"  I  cried,  "How 
are  you  to-day?  Jump  down  and  come 
in  ! "  And  with  that  I  took  down  my  feet 
and  rose  to  greet  him. 

The  Major's  face  seldom  relaxed  its  grave 
expression,  although  he  had  a  sympathetic 
eye,  but  this  day  he  looked  more  stern  and 
military  than  ever.  His  dress  added  to  this 
effect,  for  he  now  appeared  for  the  first 
time  in  the  uniform  of  Woodford's  irregu- 
lars, with  a  long,  straight  sword  dangling 
from  his  broad  belt. 

He  stroked  his  pointed,  tuft-like  beard 
which  hung  from  the  end  of  his  chin,  and 


RICHARD   JUDKLNS'   WOOING  7 

twirled  his  long,  grey  moustaches,  while  his 
eyes  looked  from  one  object  to  another  as 
if  searching  for  something.  Then  he  saluted, 
saying,  "  Is  there  a  Prince  George  county 
nigger  about  here,  Mr.  Judkins  ? " 

Snake  in  the  Grass  bent  forward  in  his 
saddle,  and  I  noticed  a  thin,  rod-like  con- 
trivance rise  from  the  back  of  his  coat  collar 
and  lift  off  his  hat,  replacing  it  again  the 
instant  he  sat  up  straight. 

"  Yes,  sir,  there  is.  Here,  Sam  !"  I  cried, 
and  my  boy  stepped  out  from  behind  a 
corner  of  the"  house  and  stood  attention. 

"If  there  is,"  continued  the  Major,  -"he 
can  hold  my  horse  a  few  moments  while 
Snake,  there,  takes  up  my  left  stirrup  a 
hole  or  two.  It  is  an  outrage  the  way  some 


8  RICHARD   JUDKINS'    WOOING 

saddles  are  built,  and  I'm  certain  this  one 
will  be  the  death  of  me  yet.  It  has  already 
given  me  trouble  in  my  left  knee  joint." 

I  gave  a  look  at  Sam  who  sprang  to  the 
Major's  bridle— and  I  might  say  here,  that 
for  an  all-around  good  nigger,  my  boy  Sam 
was  hard  to  beat.  He  stood  six  feet  one 
inch  on  a  pair  of  ham  like  feet  and  weighed 
two  hundred  weight.  He  was  a  black,  big- 
limbed,  bullet-headed,  broad-faced,  hog- 
nosed  nigger  of  the  pure  Guinea  breed,  and 
he  came  from  the  best  stock  in  Prince 
George's — but  that  goes  without  saying,  for 
the  Major  would  rather  have  seen  his  favor- 
ite mare  struck  with  a  whip  than  in  care  of 
any  other  but  a  Prince  George  nigger. 

"Well,  sir,  how  do  you  feel,  and  what  is 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'    WOOING  9 

the  news  to-day?"  I  asked,  as  I  stepped 
down  from  the  verandah  and  shook  his 
hand  when  he  had  dismounted. 

It  was  always  the  custom  to  ask  Major 
Bullbeggor  how  he  felt,  for  although  he  was 
only  fifty,  or  but  little  over  twice  my  age, 
he  always  appeared  to  be  suffering  very 
much. 

"  I  feel  a  little  better  than  I  did  last  week," 
he  answered,  "but  I  have  some  pains  shoot- 
ing all  through  me,  sir.  Yes,  sir,  a  pain, 
now  and  then,  a  shooting  all  through  me. 
I've  been  taking  Miranda  Jones'  spring 
medicine,  but  it  don't  seem  to  do  me  much 
good.  I'm  quite  certain  there's  a  settling  in 
my  joints,  coupled  with  a  numbing  of  the 
nerves  and  twitching  of  the  scalp.  Dr.  Me- 


10  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

Guire  bled  me  twice  last  week  and  drenched 
me  three  times — but  no  matter,  a  soldier  has 
no  time  to  devote  to  talking  about  his  physi- 
cal sufferings,  even  if  they  are  unwarranted. 
News  I  have,  unless  you  have  seen  Roger 
Booker  to  speak  to  while  he  was  riding  an 
express  to  the  assembly  at  Eichmond." 

"  No! "  I  answered,  "  I've  not  seen  Booker 
since  last  May,  when  he  went  with  you  to 
help  organize  some  of  the  colonial  compa- 
nies. But  what  has  happened  ?  No  more 
of  that  rioting  and  massacre  like  the  affair 
of  Concord  and  Lexington,  I  hope  1 " 

The  Major  walked  slowly  up  the  steps  and 
seated  himself  comfortably  in  the  arm-chair 
I  had  just  occupied,  and  then  waited  pa- 
tiently until  I  drew  up  a  chair  and  was 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  11 

seated.  I  saw  he  had  some  important  news, 
but,  of  course,  was  not  discourteous  in  my 
haste  to  find  it  out.  The  Major  had  served 
through  the  entire  French  war  with  Colonel 
George  Washington,  and  was  a  man  of  the 
most  pronounced  military  method  in  all 
things.  It  would  have  been  showing  a  gross 
disregard  for  his  training  had  I  even  sug- 
gested that  he  should  hurry  and  tell  me 
what  was  uppermost  in  his  mind,  before  he 
had  thought  carefully  upon  the  proper  man- 
ner and  time  for  doing  so.  For  himself,  he 
was  most  punctilious,  at  all  times,  in  his 
manner  and  address  to  gentlemen  of  his 
own  rank  and  station.  He  was  sometimes 
truculent  of  speech,  but  he  even  went  so  far 
into  the  matter  of  politeness  and  good  breed- 


12  KICHAED  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

ing  that  when  his  trusty  body  servant,  Snake 
in  the  Grass — he  always  had  a  humorous 
way  of  naming  his  people — forgot  to  bow 
properly  and  remove  his  hat  on  one  or  two 
occasions,  he  had  the  rod-like  contrivance 
rigged  upon  the  slave's  back  which  lifted 
and  replaced  his  hat  as  I  have  described. 
The  idea  that  Snake  was  a  lazy,  shiftless 
nigger,  never  entered  the  Major's  head. 
Snake  may  have  been  a  good  servant,  but 
for  my  part,  I've  always  stuck  to  the  old 
method  of  training  one's  people  and  have 
seen  more  than  one  Prince  George  county 
nigger  all  the  better  for  a  little  dressing 
with  a  small  hickory  switch ;  especially  when 
extenuating  his  circumstances. 
My  cousin,  Will  Byrd,  who  was  a  few 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  13 

years  my  senior,  came  out  of  the  house  on 
hearing  us  talking,  and,  after  greeting  the 
Major,  had  a  small  table  brought  within 
easy  reach.  Upon  this  was  placed  a  bottle 
of  brandy,  some  sugar,  ice  and  sprigs  of 
young  mint. 

The  Major  sat  there  silently  stroking  his 
beard  while  Will  mixed  the  beverage,  nor 
did  he  even  offer  my  cousin  a  suggestion, 
knowing  well  the  mixture  that  had  been 
famous  in  Judkins'  Hall  ever  since  the  days 
my  grandfather  and  Lord  George  Fairfax 
honored  its  roof. 

But  because  we  held  our  English  ancestry 
dear,  and  observed  their  customs,  don't 
think  that  we  were  rank  tories. 

Will  and  I  had  both  been  friends  of  Lord 


14  RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

Dunmore,  before  he  started  his  aggressive 
policy,  but  since  then  we  had  had  little  to 
do  with  him.  We  also  held  aloof  from  the 
too  radical  followers  of  Mr.  Patrick  Henry. 
That  is,  from  all  except  Major  Bullbeggor. 
The  Major  had  been  my  father's  friend,  and 
since  his  death  had  always  been  a  welcome 
visitor  at  the  Hall,  even  though  he  had 
helped  to  raise  a  company  sent  to  Boston, 
and  had  joined  Colonel  Woodford's  militia. 
Berkley  Harrison  and  Captain  Barron 
were  in  the  breakfast  room  talking  to  my 
mother  and  sister.  They  had  just  finished 
lunch.  Harrison  was  an  outspoken  tory 
who  lived  upon  the  adjoining  plantation, 
and  who,  though  only  thirty  years  of  age, 
was  one  of  the  richest  planters  on  the  James 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  15 

» 

river.  My  mother  had  a  high  regard  for 
his  many  accomplishments,  for  he  had  lived 
much  in  England,  and  had  the  bearing  of  a 
man  who  had  seen  something  of  the  life  at 
His  Majesty's  court. 

Therefore  Will  and  I  were  anxious  to  hear 
what  important  news  the  Major  had  to  tell 
before  anyone  else  joined  us,  for  we  were 
afraid  lest  his  radical  views  should  reach  the 
ears  of  Mr.  Harrison. 

When  the  Major  put  down  his  glass  he 
looked  at  us,  and  it  was  strange  to  note  the 
effects  of  the  liquor  in  the  old  soldier's  face. 
Every  line,  from  the  heavy  creases  about 
his  square  jaw  to  the  fan-like  wrinkles  that 
stretched  away  from  the  corners  of  his  eyes, 
seemed  to  stand  out  more  clearly.  His  eyes 


16  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

brightened  and  he  spoke  with  great  feel- 
ing— 

"Gage's  men  stormed  the  hill  defenses  at 
Boston  last  week,  and  carried  them  by  as- 
sault," he  said. 

1  'The  devil,"  said  Will. 

"And  then  what  happened?"  I  asked, 
jumping  from  my  chair. 

"  What  could  happen  with  a  lot  of  yokels 
against  regular  troops,  hey  ?  What  could 
happen?  But,"  he  added,  and  his  eyes 
fairly  flashed,  "  our  boys  made  a  fine  stand, 
sir.  Yes,  sir,  stood  there  on  Bunker  Hill 
'till  the  last  dram  of  powder  was  burned, 
and  the  scoundrels  were  running  in  and  jab- 
bing them  with  the  bayonet.  Yes,  sir,  by 
Gad,  sir,  they  have  the  making  of  the  finest 


EICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  17 

men   in   them    that   ever  stood  up  to  be 
killed." 

"  I  wish  I  had  been  there,"  said  Will. 

"Wish  thunder!"  roared  Bullbeggor,  half 
rising  from  his  chair.  "  What's  the  use  of 
wishing!  Why  don't  you  do  something 
besides  lying  around  here  and  wishing. 
Holy  thunder!  If  I  was  your  age  I  would 
have  been  there  in  the  thick  of  it  with  our 
company  of  Prince  George  boys.  Wish  to 
thunder!"  And  the  old  soldier  reached  for 
the  bottle. 

"That  is  as  may  be,"  remarked  Will, 
quietly,  referring  to  the  Major's  imaginary 
military  movements. 

"Wish  smoke  and  blazes  !"  growled  the 
old  fighter,  putting  down  his  empty  glass. 


18  BICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

"  If  it  was'nt  for  this  settling  in  the  bones 
and  numbing  of  the  joints,  and  having  pains 
shooting  all  through  me,  to  say  nothing  of 
a  vertigris  in  the  head  when  I  stoop  over, 
I'd  have  gone  up  there  with  the  boys.  As 
it  is,  I'll  do  what  I  can  against  that  rascal 
Dunmore, —  and  stay  here  with  Woodford 
toe  do  it." 

"But  give  us  the  details  of  the  Boston 
fight,"  I  urged. 

"That's  all  I  know,"  he  answered.  "I 
met  Booker  riding  an  express  to  Richmond, 
and  he  told  me  just  what  I've  told  you.  I 
think  you  and  Will  here  would  be  welcome 
at  Woodford's — if  you  don't  want  to  go  so 
far  from  home  —  and  he  will  give  you 
enough  fighting  before  the  year  is  out.  But 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  19 

isn't  that  Berk  Harrison's  voice  I  hear  ? 
He's  hand  and  glove  with  Phripps  and  Dun- 
more,  and,  perhaps,  he  would  not  care  to 
hear  my  sentiments  on  the  affairs  of  the 
day." 

"Old  Captain  Barron  is  in  there  with 
him,"  said  Will,  motioning  with  his  hand 
toward  the  room.  "  It's  nearly  two,  so  they 
ought  to  be  through  breakfast  and  be  out  in 
a  few  minutes." 

"There  isn't  a  better  soldier  than  old 
Barron  alive,  although  he  places  too  much 
value  in  the  small  sword  and  pistol — two 
worthless  weapons  for  real  fighting — Ah  ! " 

At  this  instance  the  figure  of  Berk  Harri- 
son appeared,  issuing  from  the  window  of 
the  breakfast  room,  which  being  cut  level 


20  RICHARD  JUDKINS'    WOOING 

with  the  floor  within  enabled  anyone  to 
walk  out  on  the  verandah.  He  was  closely 
followed  by  Captain  Barron  and  my  sister, 
Mary.  Harrison  was  dressed  with  his  usual 
care,  wearing  a  buff  waistcoat  and  snowy 
ruffles.  Although  he  had  slept  in  the  Hall 
over  night,  he  had  not  appeared  in  the  break- 
fast room  until  after  I  had  finished  my  mid- 
day meal.  He  wore  his  hair  carefully  queued, 
and  his  lean,  smooth  face,  with  its  arched 
eyebrows,  aquiline  nose,  and  thin,  straight 
lips,  bespoke  the  cynical  man  of  the  world  — 
and  also  of  fierce  passion. 

There  was  a  hard  glint  in  his  eyes  the 
instant  they  were  directed  toward  the 
Major,  but  the  glance  softened  a  little  when 
he  noticed  me. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  21 

"Good  morning,  Major  Bullbeggor,"  he 
said,  advancing  toward  the  old  soldier,  who 
rose  to  greet  him.  "  How  are  you,  sir,  this 
morning  ? " 

' '  Pretty  well,  thank  you,  sir ;  yes,  sir, 
pretty  well,  considering  a  little  settling  of 
the  bones  I  probably  got  by  riding  too  long 
yesterday — Ah  !  Good  morning,  Miss  Jud- 
kins."  And  then  he  shook  hands  with  my 
sister  and  Barren.  The  Captain  and  he  had 
served  together  and  were  old  friends. 

"Always  well  and  hearty,  Barron,  eh?" 
he  cried. 

"You  see,  Miss  Judkins,  the  difference 
time  makes  with  men.  Here's  Barron  sit- 
ting around  all  the  time  with  the  ladies  as 
young  as  he  was  twenty  years  ago,  and  just 


22  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

look  at  me — a  perfect  wreck,  yes,  Miss,  a 
perfect  wreck.  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  he 
began  to  think  of  getting  married  next — if 
he  only  had  a  pension,  eh." 

"  My  face  ought  to  be  worth  a  thousand 
a  year  to  any  woman,"  laughed  Barren, 
drawing  up  a  chair,  while  Mary  stepped 
down  from  the  verandah  to  pet  the  Major's 
mare  and  have  a  word  with  his  strangely 
attired  nigger,  Snake  in  the  Grass. 

"Your  face,  indeed,  ought  to  be  worth 
that,  Barry,"  continued  the  Major,  smiling 
at  him  thoughtfully,  "but  it  is  a  question 
that  might  admit  of  some  diversity  of 
opinion  among  women,  in  comparing  it  to 
the  relative  value  of  affections." 

"It  is  strange  that  women  should  put 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  23 

such  a  value  on  such  things  as  affections," 
said  Harrison,  smiling  at  me,  "but  self 
esteem  is  to  be  commended  in  the  sex." 

Barron  laughed  heartily,  as  he  always  did 
when  jokes  were  made  at  his  expense.  He 
always  laughed  at,  and  took  a  light  view  of, 
everything,  and  it  was  this  that  made  him 
so  popular  with  the  young  people,  for  he 
was,  physically,  the  ugliest  man  on  the 
river.  He  refused  to  wear  any  hair  except 
his  own,  which  consisted  of  two  little  red 
tufts  just  over  his  ears.  These  latter  stuck 
out  from  the  sides  of  his  head  like  a  pair  of 
fans.  His  face  was  full,  bronzed  and  rug- 
ged featured,  and  absolutely  hairless,  and 
his  mouth  curled  up  at  the  corners  in  a  per- 
petual smile.  His  great,  red  nose  was 


J24  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

almost  purple,  and  its  color,  he  claimed,  had 
cost  him  much  time  and  money  to  develop. 
He  was  short  and  stout,  but  always  wore 
the  baggiest  of  brown  homespun  breeches. 

"Women  are  not  the  only  persons  who 
like  comfort,"  said  he,  and  the  Major,  very 
thoughtfully,  passed  him  the  bottle. 

"No,  no,"  he  cried,  motioning  away  the 
liquor,  "I  never  drink  at  this  time  of  day, 
and  very  little  now  at  all.  Only  a  bracer  or 
two  when  I  rise,  then  another  before  eating, 
along  with  two  or  three  in  the  late  after- 
noon— and  a  couple  before  dinner — and — 
well,  I'll  take  just  one,  if  you  insist." 

"Its  easy  to  see  that  Barren's  heart  lies 
in  his  stomach,"  said  the  Major.  "There's 
an  old  woman's  saying  that  *  to  win  a  man's 
esteem,  you  must  feed  the  brute.' " 


RICHARD  JLTDKINS'    WOOING  25 

"And,  likewise,  to  win  a  woman's,  'dress 
the  animal,'"  laughed  Barron. 

But  what  was  the  news,  Major,  from 
Boston?    I   thought   I   overheard   you  say 

Imething  about  a  fight,"  asked  Harrison. 
"  He  did,"  said  Will.     "  Gage's  men  car- 
ried Bunker  Hill  by  assault,  last  week.    But 
he  says  the  Virginia  boys  fought  well  and 
;ave  the  reddies  all  they  wanted." 
"They  did  that,  and  Woodford's  men  will 
.ve  Dunmore  about  the  same,  if  he  doesn't 
bear  a  hand  and   leave,"  interrupted   the 
Major  sententiously. 

"  You  don't  say ! "  laughed  Barron,  raising 
his  glass.  "Well,  here's  to  the  army  of 
Virginia,  and  may  it  reap  much  benefit  from 
the  Major  and  his  combination  of  Christian 
men." 


26  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"And  have  reason  to  give  thanks  that 
they'll  be  in  no  worse  condition  than  that 
which  they  find  themselves,"  muttered  Har- 
rison, putting  down  his  untouched  glass. 
"They'll  be  damned  lucky  if  they're  not." 

"Oh,  well,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  be 
profane  about  it,"  said  the  Major,  quietly. 

Barron  smacked  his  huge  lips  and  smiled 
blandly,  then  murmured  softly — 

"And  when  they  pawned  and  damned  their  souls 
They  were  but  prisoners  on  paroles." 

"An  apt  quotation,"  snapped  Harrison  ill- 
humoredly. 

"You  don't  look  as  if  you  were  much 
given  to  poetry,  especially  Butler's." 

"An  angel  is  sometimes  disguised  as  a 
devil,"  laughed  Barron. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  27 

"But  never  as  a  soldier,"  said  Harrison, 
dryly. 

"Nor    as    a    fop,"    growled    Bullbeggor, 
which  the  same  might  be  said  of  some 
pie  who  dress  to  appear  like  gentlemen, 
t  about  whom  there  might  be  some  diver- 
sity of  opinion  among  men."    And  he  looked 
straight  before  him. 

"Your  wit  is  coarse,  and  if  you  mean 
at  for  me,  I'll  say  you  are  damned  inso- 
lent," said  Harrison  with  some  energy. 
"Oh,  hold  on!"  said  Will. 
"The  Major  did  not  mean  that  for  you,"  I 
id  quietly,  advancing    toward    Harrison, 
who  stood  leaning  against  a  pillar  of  the 
verandah.     "  He  never  makes  rude  remarks 
to  anyone,"  I  continued,  trying  to  pacify  his 


28  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

rising  anger,  "and  he  simply  meant  the  vice 
versa  of  Barren's  jest." 

"I  don't  overstep  the  rules  of  politeness 
very  often,"  said  the  Major,  slowly,  "but  I 
don't  believe  in  fitting  all  cases  to  a  set  of 
rules.  It  is  better  sometimes  to  make  a 
rule  to  fit  a  case,  such  as  this,  for  instance. 
If  Mr.  Harrison  thinks  I  made  the  remark 
for  the  purpose  of  comparing  him  to  an 
angel,  he  is  most  unaccountably  satisfied 
with  his  personal  appearance  and  certainly 
flatters  himself,  but  if  so,  he  is  welcome, 
and  be  damned  to  him.  I'll  give  him  what- 
ever redress  he  wishes  at  any  time.  Only 
I'd  rather  take  it  out  of  his  friend,  Dun- 
more,  if  - 

"Hold  on,  Major  !  You  forget  yourself," 
cried  Will,  placing  a  hand  on  his  shoulder. 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  29 

I'll  see  that  you  make  good  your  words 
>-morrow  morning,  old  as  you  are,"  said 
[arrison,  now  white  to  the  lips  with  pas- 
jion.  And  he  walked  away  and  down  the 
steps,  meeting  my  sister  Mary,  who  had 
just  heard  the  raised  voices  and  had  turned 

see  what  had  happened. 

"  Why  do  you  waste  time  talking  to  those 
Did  men,"  I  heard  her  say  as  they  walked 
together  down  the  path  which  led  to  the 
grove  of  live  oaks  that  separated  the  estates. 
But  he  appeared  not  to  answer,  so  I  knew 
there  was  trouble  ahead. 

"Harrison  has  horrible  taste  to  get  angry 
at  such  an  old  fellow  as  you,"  laughed  Bar- 
ron.  "Also  a  pretty  clever  opinion  of  his 
presence." 


30  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"I  am  old,  Barry,  sure  enough,  but  I 
can't  abide  a  man  who  lives  in  a  country  as 
a  gentleman  and  then  fights  against  it.  I've 
got  these  pains  shooting  all  through  me  and 
considerable  twitching  of  the  skuU,  but  I'll 
meet  him,  sir;  yes,  sir,  I'll  meet  him  to- 
morrow morning  if  I'm  alive.  I  offer  you 

my  humblest  apology,  Mr.  Judkins,  for 
being  party  to  a  scene  on  your  verandah, 
but  you  heard  what  he  said  in  regard  to 
soldiers,  sir;  yes  sir,  you  heard  what  he 
said."  And  the  Major  reached  for  the  bottle, 
while  I  entered  the  house  to  leave  again  by 
a  side  door  and  follow  Harrison  to  do  what 
I  could  to  pacify  him. 

Will  Byrd  was  living  with  us,  so  I  felt 
sure  he  would  keep  Barron  and  the  Major  in 
good  humor  until  I  came  back. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  31 

Mary  met  me  on  the  pathway  leading  to 
Harrison's.  She  had  just  left  him  and  was 
much  upset  at  his  temper. 

"I  don't  see  why  you  have  these  old 
duffers  come  up  here  and  make  trouble," 
she  said.  "  Captain  Barron  is  bad  enough 
by  himself,  but  when  that  horrid  old  Major 
Bullbeggor  and  he  get  together,  they  just  sit 
around  to  drink  and  make  trouble.  It's 
only  an  hour's  ride  to  his  place  and  I  don't 
see  why  Sam  can't  help  Snake  take  him 
home." 

"My  dear  sister,"  I  said,  " you  know  the 
traditions  of  Judkins'  Hall.  The  Major 
shall,  therefore,  always  be  a  welcome  visi- 
tor. He  is  a  good  soldier,  and  the  time  will 
come — if  it  is  not  here  already — when  Vir- 


32  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

ginia  will  need  just  such  men.  We  cannot 
put  up  with  Dunmore's  violence  any  longer, 
and  if  Berk  Harrison  can't  understand  this, 
the  sooner  we  see  less  of  him,  the  better  it 
will  be  for  us  all." 

"Good  soldier!  Huh!"  she  cried,  with  a 
pretty  toss  of  her  head.  "If  Virginia  de- 
pends on  such  men  for  soldiers,  my  lord 
Dunmore  will  soon  settle  the  disturbance. 
Good  soldier,  indeed  !  Why  it  was  only  last 
week  he  and  Captain  Barron  were  sitting  up 
drinking  and  telling  their  abominable  ad- 
ventures, and  they  were  anything  but  a 
soldier-like  kind.  Poor  Mrs.  Bullbeggor 
overheard  them  and  has  threatened  to  get  a 
divorce.  Snake  said  she  had  hysterics,  ancl 
kept  screaming  that  her  husband  was  fit  for 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  33 

nothing  but  paying  bills.  Good  soldier,  in- 
deed ! "  And  Mary  went  into  the  house 
with  an  air  of  indignation  that  would  have 
done  credit  to  a  queen — or  a  Judkins. 

I  went  over  to  Harrison's,  but  on  the  way 
I  couldn't  help  wondering  if  this  power  to 
pay  bills,  which  Mary  held  in  such  high  dis- 
dain in  the  Major,  was  not  just  a  little  at- 
tractive in  young  Harrison.  Women  have 
strange  methods  of  reasoning  out  the  proper 
Way  to  look  at  things. 

Harrison  declined  to  see  me,  at  first,  but 
after  I  had  sat  out  two  cigars  on  his  veran- 
dah, he  appeared. 

He  refused  to  listen  to  any  peaceful  over- 
tures that  I  advanced,  and  I  wasted  all  the 
afternoon  and  evening  trying  to  settle  mat- 


34  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

ters  without  a  meeting.  His  friend  Phripps 
dined  with  him  and  afterwards  left  with  a 
formal  challenge  to  the  Major,  requesting  a 
meeting  at  sunrise  the  next  morning.  I  left 
Harrison  at  about  nine  in  the  evening,  after 
an  uncomfortable  meal,  with  the  feeling 
that  trouble  was  in  store  for  the  Major. 

On  reaching  the  Hall,  I  found  dinner  over 
and  the  Major  and  Barron  in  bed.  The 
Major  had  requested  Barron  to  act  for  him 
and  had  accepted  the  challenge.  They  had 
settled  upon  a  spot  down  on  the  river  shore, 
and  all  who  know  the  James  will  remember 
how  flat  and  smooth  the  shore  is  at  this 
bend. 

The  fact  that  there  was  to  be  a  meeting 
had  been  kept  secret  from  my  mother  and 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  35 

sister,  for  even  Mary  did  not  think  the  last 
words  she  had  overheard  meant  anything 
dangerous,  but,  in  spite  of  this,  it  was  easy 
to  see  that  the  house  servants  suspected 
something  was  wrong. 

My  mother  gave  me  a  lecture  about  the 
advisibility  of  taking  her  advice,  and  also 
how  to  treat  the  Major.  She  really  liked 
the  old  soldier,  in  spite  of  his  eccentricities, 
but  wished,  also,  to  avoid  offending  Harri- 
son I  forget  now  just  what  the  advice 
was,  but,  as  a  matter  of  course,  had  I  taken 
it,  all  must  have  ended  well,  for  time  and 
again  afterwards  have  I  heard  her  affirm 
this — so  also  has  she  in  regard  to  other 
matters. 

I  walked  out  on  the  cool  lawn  under  the 
bright  stars,  and  then  around  the  house, 


36  RICHARD   JUDKIMS'    WOOING 

hoping  to  find  Will  who  had  stepped  over  to 
the  stables.  I  met  him  as  he  was  coming 
back  and  together  we  walked  around  behind 
the  slave  quarters,  discussing  the  affair  of 
the  Major's  and  also  the  gloomy  outlook  of 
war  in  the  colonies.  The  news  of  Bunker 
Hill  had  affected  both  of  us  greatly.  As  we 
passed  an  angle  of  the  house  we  heard 
voices. 

"Is  yo'  sho'  miff  a  Prince  Gawge  nig- 
ger ? "  said  one. 

"Datlis,  honey,  sho';  an'  I's  de  nigger 
uf  er  Prince  Gawge  man,"  answered  the 
other. 

"  Kin  he  stan'  agin  Marse  Berk  ? " 

"  Doan  make  no  moan,  honey,  dere'll  be 
bluddy  murder  an'  suddin  demise  in  der 
mawnin'." 


CHAPTER  II 

Just  before  daybreak  I  was  suddenly 
aroused  by  the  violent  movements  of  the 
Major,  who  occupied  a  room  next  to  mine. 

The  bell-cord  was  pulled  viciously  for  some 
moments,  and  this  was  followed  by  hoarse 
exclamations. 

Finally  someone  answered  the  bell  and 
knocked  at  the  Major's  door. 

A  deep  grunt  followed  and  the  door  was 
partly  opened. 

"  Are  yo '  a  Prince  George  nigger? "  asked 
the  Major,  sleepily. 

"No  sir!" 

"Then  git  out  and  send  me  one  right 


38  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

The  door  closed,  a  short  period  of  silence 
followed,  which  was  suddenly  broken  by 
more  violent  pulls  at  the  bell  cord.  Then  I 
thought  I  recognized  Sam's  footsteps  sound- 
ing softly  along  the  hall,  and  the  door  opened 
again. 

"Are  yo '  a  Prince  George  nigger?"  grunted 
the  Major. 

"  I  is  sir,  "  came  Sam's  answer. 

"Then  for  the  Lord's  sake  take  a  look 
around  and  tell  me  where  I  am  at." 

"  You'se  right  heah,  Major.  Eight  heah, 
sah. " 

"  I  thought  so, "said  the  Major  with  a  sat- 
isfied sigh,  and  as  the  door  closed  again  a 
long  drawn  snore  told  plainly  that  he  had 
relapsed  into  peaceful  sleep. 


EICHARD  JUD  KINS'   WOOING  39 

I  was  too  much  aroused,  by  this  time,  to 
sleep  any  more,  so  I  lay  awake  thinking  of 
the  possible  dangerous  outcome  of  the  meet- 
ing that  would  soon  take  place. 

Soon  I  heard  footsteps  again  approaching 
along  the  corridor,  and  I  was  then  aware  that 
Barron  and  Will  Byrd  were  approaching 
the  Major's  room.  It  was  barely  daylight, 
but  I  jumped  up  and  dressed  and  made  my 
way  into  the  room  to  join  them. 

The  Major  was  still  undressed.  He  sat  on 
the  edge  of  the  bed  and  appeared  so  nervous 
that  he  could  hardly  put  on  his  clothes. 

This  amused  Barron  very  much. 

"  Its'  no  use,  Barry!  you  know  the  old  say- 
ing about  the  dogs'  hair  being  good  for  his 
bite,"  said  the  Major,  throwing  down  his 


40  RICHARD  JUDKINS*  WOOING 

clothes.  u  Gimme  some  of  the  hair,  and  I'll 
see  if  this  twitching  of  the  bones  and  numb- 
ing of  the  nerves  don't  hold  off  a  bit.  Lord! 
I  didn't  drink  anything  last  night  to 
amount  to  anything.  I  was  just  a  little  tired 
out  riding  over  from  Pendletons." 

Barren  poured  out  a  good,  stiff  drink  of 
brandy,  and  the  Major  gulped  it  down  with- 
out winking. 

Then  a  most  remarkable  change  came 
over  the  old  fighter's  grizzled  features.  He 
jumped  up,  and  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to 
tell  of  it,  he  had  his  clothes  on,  and  was  just 
buckling  on  his  sword  belt,  when  Barron 
stopped  him. 

"Now,  Bull,  whoever  heard  of  fighting  a 
duel  in  such  a  rig,"  he  cried,  "Take  it  off. 


RICHARD   JUUKINS'   WOOING  41 

man.  Byrd  has  the  tooth-picks  for  this 
work,"  and  he  pointed  to  a  couple  of  rapiers, 
wrapped  carefully  in  cloth,  that  Will  car- 
ried under  his  arm. 

The  Major  looked  from  one  to  the  other 
of  us. 

"  Fight  a  duel! "  he  cried  in  astonishment. 
"  Who  in  the  name  of  six  sons  of  Hay- 
man  is  going  to  fight  a  duel  ? "  and  he  forth- 
with strapped  on  his  sword-belt. 

Barren  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter. 
'''Never  mind,  come  along  with  us.  But 
where  on  earth,  Bull,  did  you  think  we 
were  bound  for  at  this  hour  in  the  morn- 
ing?" 

" Think!"  roared  Bullbeggor,  "  I  know 
I'm  going  to  ride  to  Williamsburg  and  r? 


42  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

port  to  Colonel  Woodford.      Think   thun- 
der." 

Will  looked  a  little  disgusted,  but  said 
nothing,  and  I  led  the  way  softly  down  the 
corridor  and  out  the  back  way  without 
awakening  my  mother  or  sister. 

The  Major  looked  about  him  with  blink- 
ing, sheeny  eyes  for  his  mare.  Not  seeing 
her,  he  started  for  the  stables,  calling  out 
lustily  for  Snake  in  the  Grass. 

Barron  seized  him  by  the  arm  and  stopped 
him.  "Bull,"  he  cried  laughing,  "youv'e 
made  an  appointment  to  meet  Harrison 
and  he  is  waiting  to  get  a  clip  from  you 
down  on  the  shore.  Don't  make  any  more 
racket,  but  come  along  before  you  wake  up 
the  household, " 


RICHARD   JUDKINS"  WOOING-  43 

I  must  say,  I  was  somewhat  disgusted 
with  the  Major's  behavior,  so  I  spoke  out, 
telling  him  he  would  have  to  meet  his  man. 

"Meet  him!"  he  bawled,  turning  on  me 
fiercely.  "  Of  course  I'll  meet  him."  Then 
he  turned  toward  the  stable.  "Snake ! "  he 
cried,  as  his  nigger  appeared,  "Get  the 
mare  ready,  for  I'll  be  through  in  a  few 
minutes.  Lead  the  way,  Mr.  Judkins. 
Meet  the  devil ! " 

I  then  led  the  way  down  to  the  river 
bank,  just  as  the  rising  sun  tipped  the  tree 
tops  with  golden  light. 

The  shore  in  the  bend  was  very  flat  and 
sandy,  being  overhung  partly  with  great, 
sweeping  willows.  As  we  neared  the  spot 
fixed  upon  we  were  aware  of  the  presence. 


44  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

of  Harrison  and  Phripps.  They  were  stand- 
ing under  a  large  tree  and  appeared  to  be 
much  absorbed  in  conversation. 

As  we  approached  them  they  turned  about, 
and  Phripps  advanced,  holding  a  pair  of 
small  swords  in  one  hand  and  a  case  con- 
taining pistols  in  the  other. 

Will  and  the  Major  stood  aside  and 
Phripps,  Barron  and  myself  proceeded  to 
arrange  the  details  of  the  meeting. 

It  was  decided  to  fight  the  affair  with 
swords,  until  one  or  the  other  of  the  com- 
batants was  completely  disabled,  and  I  must 
say  that  Phripps  was  fair  enough  in  the 
matter.  He  measured  the  weapons  and 
gave  Barron  the  choice,  after  which  he  took 
t/he  one  left  and  started  toward  Harrison, 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  45 

who  had  strolled  down  on  the  river  shore 
to  where  the  sand  was  hard  and  firm. 

I  might  say  here,  that  I  was  not  at  all 
unfriendly  toward  Harrison,  and  that  I  only 
took  part  in  the  affair  after  I  had  done 
everything  in  my  power  to  settle  matters 
peaceably.  It  required  nice  discernment,  in 
those  days,  for  a  man  to  make  up  his  mind 
whether  he  was  a  tory  or  not,  and  it  was 

more  because  I  sympathized  with  the 
Major's  political  ideas,  than  anything  else, 
that  I  took  any  part  in  the  matter  at  all. 
As  it  was,  I  acted  as  I  had  acted  several 
times  before  in  such  cases  ;  that  is,  as  referee 
or  judge,  while  Barron  and  Phripps  were 
seconds  to  their  respective  men.  Will 
Byrd  simply  acted  as  a  spectator.  It  was 


46  EICHARD  JUDKINS*   WOOING 

a  perfect  spot  for  a  meeting.  The  tall 
sweeping  willows  for  a  background  on  the 
low  bluff-like  bank,  and  the  water  spark- 
ling in  the  sunshine  beyond  the  shadow. 
The  sand  of  the  shore  was  firm  and  flat,  and 
there  was  plenty  of  room,  as  it  was  now 
nearly  low  water.  I  marked  a  spot  and 
gave  the  signal  for  the  men  to  take  their 
places. 

I  introduced  the  Major  to  Phripps  and 
bade  Barron  hand  him  his  weapon  quickly 
to  avoid  unnecessary  delay,  for  I  knew  his 
habits  of  inquiry. 

"Mr.  Phripps,  your  mother  was  a  Eobin- 
son,  I  believe,  if  I  remember  correctly," 
said  he,  as  Barron  passed  him  the  hilt  and 
cast  off  his  sword  belt. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  47 

"I  never  met  her  as  a  girl,"  snapped 
Phripps,  impatiently. 

"The  more  honor  to  her,"  replied  the 
Major,  quietly,  as  he  flashed  out  his  heavy 
broadsword.  "No  fear,"  he  continued,  as 
Phripps  reached  hastily  for  the  pistol  case, 
"I'll  attend  to  you  some  other  time.  I 
have  to  do  with  Dunmore's  heel  dog  first." 

I  took  up  a  pistol  and  cocked  back  the 
flint.  "You  know  the  penalty,  Major. 
Take  your  place  and  weapon,"  I  said. 

He  looked  steadily  at  me  for  a  moment, 
his  eyes  gleaming  with  a  strange  light. 
Then  he  answered  : 

"This  is  a  weapon  I've  used  for  some 
years  past,  Mr.  Judkins,  and  it  is  the  only 
one  I  will  use  in  this  quarrel.  If  no  one 


43  RICHARD   JUDKINS*   WOOING 

cares  to  meet  me  my  mare  is  waiting  to 
carry  me  to  more  important  matters.  Take 
the  devil!"  he  growled  deeper,  "I'll  take 
the  stiffening  out  of  somebody." 

' '  Don't  disturb  him  on  my  account,"  spoke 
Harrison.  "Let  him  use  his  weapon  and 
talk  less.  I  make  no  objection  to  it  at  all. 
I  am  ready."  And  he  took  his  position. 

I  looked  at  Phripps,  but  he  nodded 
approval ;  so  I  gave  the  word  to  begin.  I 
heard  Barren  laugh  out  some  remark  at  the 
Major's  expense,  as  the  men  stood  on  guard 
for  an  instant.  Then  the  right  began. 

As  I  said  before,  I  had  already  seen  some 
sword  play  and  indifferent  marksmanship 
on  that  beach,  but  this  affair  was  most 
uncommon. 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  49 

The  men  were  at  it  fiercely  as  the  weapons 
fell  across.  Harrison,  with  gleaming  eyes 
and  a'sneer  of  contempt  on  his  lips,  thrust 
and  lunged  past  the  broad  blade  of  the 
Major's  with  cat  like  quickness.  But  to  no 
purpose.  The  Major,  holding  his  heavy 
broadsword  as  lightly  as  a  rapier  before 
him,  with  its  scabbard  held  high  in  his  left 
hand  behind  his  back  to  keep  it  from  his 
knees,  turned  each  attack  by  a  slight,  strong 
turn  of  the  wrist.  His  face  was  grave  and 
calm,  but  as  I  watched  him,  the  gradual 
tightening  of  the  muscles  in  his  lean, 
bronzed  jaws  showed  that  either  the  strain 
was  beginning  to  tell  on  his  wind,  or  else 
his  temper  was  rising  rapidly.  However, 
he  refrained  from  attempting  the  stroke  I 


50  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

knew  must  soon  be  made,  unless  Harrison 
jabbed  him. 

The  morning  was  warm  and  soon  the  per- 
spiration was  pouring  down  the  faces  of  the 
men.  Harrison  eased  up  a  moment  to  note 
his  effect  on  the  Major,  and  seeing  that  he 
was  keeping  him  in  hand,  pressed  forward 
again  with  vigor. 

Backward  went  the  Major,  giving  ground 
slowly  in  a  circle,  while  that  look  of  sur- 
prise I  have  seen  on  more  than  one  man's 
face,  when  suddenly  confronted  by  grave 
danger,  spread  slowly  over  his  streaming 
features. 

Harrison  was  getting  white  and  waxy 
about  the  lips,  and  his  breath  came  in  loud 
rasping  gasps,  but  his  eye  was  like  the 
glint  of  steel  as  he  pressed  fiercely  on. 


EICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  51 

I  have  never  seen  a  better  swordsman. 
His  wrist  began  to  tire,  but  he  instantly 
passed  his  hilt  to  his  left  hand  and  then 
came  on  harder  than  ever. 

I  looked  at  Barron  and  saw  the  smile  go 
from  his  face  as  the  Major  circled  backward 

past  him.  The  old  soldier's  left  hand  was 
holding  his  scabbard  lower  and  lower,  until 
finally  he  dropped  it  entirely.  Then  Harri- 
son saw  his  time  had  come  for  the  finish. 
;  Quick  as  thought  he  passed  his  hilt  to  his 
right  hand  again,  for  the  final  thrust 
through  the  Major's  wavering  guard. 

Then  happened  the  most  uncommon 
thing  about  the  whole  affair.  It  was  done 
so  quickly  my  eyes  could  hardly  follow  it, 
although  I  was  standing  but  a  few  paces 
away  and  looking  directly  at  the  men. 


52  RICHARD  JUDKISTS'   WOOING 

As  Harrison  passed  his  hilt  to  his  right 
hand,  the  Major's  weapon  fell  to  the  right 
of  him  with  his  foot  stiU  advanced,  and  as 
Harrison  lunged  strongly,  the  Major's 
broadsword  rose  and  fell  with  a  wicked 
"swish." 

Harrison's  sword  passed  neatly  through 
the  Major's  shoulder  and  protruded  fully  a 

foot  behind  him,  while  the  old  soldier's  wea- 
pon struck  Harrison  fairly  on  the  head  and 
stretched  him  limp  on  the  sand.  The  heavy 
blade  had  struck  close  to  the  hilt,  as  he  had 
lunged  forward,  otherwise  it  must  have 
bitten  in  as  deep  as  the  eyes.  As  it  was  the 
blow  was  bad  enough,  and  we  rushed  in  to 
see  what  could  be  done  for  him.  It  was 
several  minutes,  however,  before  he  opened 
his  eyes  and  showed  any  signs  of  life. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  53 

While  we  worked  to  stanch  Harrison's 
wound  and  revive  him,  the  Major  walked 
off  a  short  distance  and  sat  himself  on  the 
edge  of  the  low,  bluff -like  bank  beneath  a 
willow.  He  then  carefully  stripped  off  his 
new  uniform  before  Barren  or  Byrd  thought 
of  leaving  Harrison  to  come  to  his  assis- 
tance, tied  up  the  rapier  thrust,  and  pre- 
pared to  move  along  in  the  direction  of  the 
Hall  with  his  sword  belt  slung  carelessly 
over  his  arm. 

When  Harrison's  wandering  gaze  met 
him  his  strength  came  back  suddenly,  and 
it  was  all  Barron  and  I  could  do  to  hold  him 
in  check.  He  insisted  that  he  should  con- 
tinue the  engagement  and  Byrd's  outspoken 
objections  only  inflam^1  ^i^  the  more. 


54  RICHAKD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

The  Major  suddenly  glanced  back  and 
saw  what  had  happened,  so  he  halted  while 
Phripps  ran  toward  him. 

"The  affair  is  not  quite  over,  if  you 
please,  sir,"  said  Phripps  as  he  approached. 

"  Isn't,  eh !  "  grunted  Bullbeggor,  drawing 
his  sword  and  throwing  the  scabbard  aside. 
"  Then  if  you  can  prove  that  your  gentility 
consists  in  something  more  than  a  love  for 
horses  and  dogs — and  women,  you  can  get 
your  hand  to  some  weapon."  And  with 
that  he  came  quickly  forward. 

"After  Mr.  Harrison  has  finished  with 
you,  we  can  go  further  into  the  matter  with 
some  advantage,"  said  the  second,  motion- 
ing with  his  hand  towards  his  principal. 

But  Harrison's  strength  was  unequal  to 


RICHARD   JUDKIXS'    WOOING  55 

tho  occasion.  He  no  sooner  stood  alone  than 
ho  wavered,  staggered,  and  then  pitched 
forward  on  his  face  in  a  dead  faint.  Phripps 
quickly  ran  to  him  and  raised  his  head  while 
I  poured  some  brandy  between  his  lips. 

The  Major  stood  silent  and  motionless  be- 
fore the  group,  his  sword  point  resting  upon 

the  toe  of  his  boot  and  his  hands  crossed 
over  the  hilt.  A  strangely  grave  and 
thoughtful  expression  shone  on  his  rugged 
face,  now  perfectly  calm  from  the  heat  and 
excitement  of  the  fray;  and  as  I  watched 
him  he  appeared  to  me  a  poor  duellist,  and 
a  man  to  whom  self  was  not  the  all  impor- 
tant realization  in  life. 

I  went  toward  him  and  held  out  my  hand. 
He  took  it  in  an  absent  minded  way  and 


56  KICUAllD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

turned  at  the  sound  of  approaching  foot- 
steps behind  him.  I  looked  over  his  shoul- 
der just  as  Snake  broke  through  the  fringe 
of  willows,  leading  the  Major's  mare  by  the 
bridle. 

"I  suppose  he  isn't  hurt  badly,  Mr.  Jud- 
kins,"  said  Bullbeggor,  looking  at  his  limp 
adversary.  "But  even  if  he  is,  I  don't  be- 
lieve I  can  do  much  for  him.  I  thank  you, 
sir,  for  your  hospitality  and  fairness.  I 
must  go  along  now,  for  I'm  due  at  Wil- 
liamsburg  before  night." 

"  You  certainly  will  come  back  to  the  Hall 
and  let  us  fix  you  up  a  little,  Major.  You 
certainly  must  feel  a  little  shaken  from  that 
puncture.  It  may  be  more  dangerous  than 
you  believe,"  I  said. 


57 

"Not  at  all,  sir.  Not  at  all.  I  have  had 
Dr.  McGuire  bleed  me  twice  as  much  in  the 
last  month.  I  do  feel  a  slight  twitching  of 
the  bones  and  a  sort  of  dead  feeling  in  the 
nerves,  but  besides  a  few  pains  shooting  in 
and  out,  I'm  all  right.  Then  there  is  Pen- 
dleton's  tavern  at  the  cross-roads  a  mile  be- 
yond the  bend,  and  you  remember  the  old 
rake  keeps  good  bottled  stuff.  No  fear,  I'll 
be  all  right.  But  I  will  take  a  small  drink 
with  you,  Barron  and  Byrd,  just  to  show 
there's  no  hard  feeling." 

Harrison  had  begun  to  show  signs  of  re- 
turning consciousness,  so  Barron  and  Will 
leit  his  side  and  came  forward  a  pace  or 
two.  The  flask  was  passed  around  and  then, 
in  spite  of  Barren's  protests  to  the  contrary? 


58  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

the  Major  insisted  on  carrying  out  his  plans 
as  he  had  already  intended.  He  buckled  on 
his  sword  belt  and  mounted  his  powerful 
mare,  while  Snake  plunged  into  the  bushes 
and  reappeared  a  moment  later  mounted 
and  ready  to  follow  his  master.  His  black 
face  was  showing  in  marked  contrast  to  the 
white  gleam  of  his  huge  mouthful  of  teeth, 
and  it  was  evident  that  he  had  viewed  the 
fight  from  some  unseen  point  on  the  river 
shore  and  was  well  pleased  with  the  result. 
We  raised  Harrison  and  carried  him  in 
the  direction  of  the  Hall.  In  a  few  minutes 
he  revived  and  looked  about  him  for  the 
Major.  Not  seeing  him,  he  insisted  on  walk- 
ing the  remaining  distance  to  the  house  on 
foot  and  we  finally  allowed  him  to  attempt 
it. 


BICHAKD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  59 

Just  as  we  crossed  the  road,  opposite  the 
driveway,  I  saw  Snake  in  the  distance  turn 
sharply  in  his  saddle  as  we  came  into  view. 
Then,  through  the  dust  cloud  that  almost 
instantly  swallowed  him  up,  I  noticed  his 
head  bend  outwards  and  his  white  cap  rise 
and  fall  in  an  ungraceful  bow. 


CHAPTER  III 

v 

The  second  day  after  this  meeting  we 
were  at  breakfast,  sitting  somewhat  stiffly 
at  the  table,  when  my  boy  Sam,  whom 
Mary  had  just  sent  over  to  Harrison's  to 
find  out  how  he  did,  brought  a  note  in  an- 
swer, saying  that  he  had  almost  entirely 
recovered  and  hoped  to  have  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  her  that  morning.  Barron  and 
Will  were  still  staying  at  the  Hall  and  we 
had  all  been  somewhat  reserved  in  manner 
in  spite  of  the  old  Captain's  jests.  Although 
there  had  been  no  serious  outcome  to  the 
affair,  a  meeting  of  that  kind,  no  matter 
how  common  the  occurrence,  always  makes 
women  a  little  distant  and  cold  in  manner 

(60) 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  61 

to  the  parties  concerned.  This  is  possibly 
because  a  woman  is  somewhat  more  civil- 
ized than  man,  and  anything  that  savors  of 
brutality  or  fierceness,  always  is  more  revolt- 
ing to  her  than  to  the  less  artificial  being. 

I  have  said  the  occurrence  of  such  affairs 
was  common  enough  in  the  old  days,  before 
the  practice  of  putting  grooves  in  pistols  and 
making  them  as  accurate  as  rifles  to  a  steady 
hand,  became  general.  After  that  men  be- 
came more  careful  about  abusing  the  code 
and  getting  into  scrapes,  for  the  pistol  has 
always  been  recognized  as  a  weapon  for 
gentlemen  in  Virginia.  But  I  must  confess, 
however,  that  meetings  have  always  been 
numerous  enough,  and  for  the  most  trivial 
causes,  on  the  soil  of  the  grand  old  common- 
wealth. 


62  EICHAED   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

After  Mary  had  read  the  note  from  Har- 
rison she  became  much  more  civil  to  Barron, 
and  even  my  mother's  stern  dignity  thawed 
a  little  under  the  prospect  of  a  renewal  of 
social  intercourse  with  the  master  of  the 
Harrison  plantation. 

Mary  was  only  nineteen,  and  although 
southern  girls  are  women  of  that  age,  she 
possessed  a  great  deal  of  that  childlike  sim- 
plicity, which  is,  or  is  not,  so  acceptable  to 
the  majority  of  men.  For  my  part,  how- 
ever, I  have  always  been  ungallant  enough 
to  believe  that  a  woman  affects  much. 

Will  had  been  devotion  itself  for  two 
years  past  at  Judkins'  Hall,  for  he  lived  only 
a  few  miles  away  near  his  family's  old 
country  seat  at  Westover,  and  consequently 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  63 

found  it  quite  easy  to  see  the  inmates  of  the 
Hall  several  times  a  week  even  when  living 
at  home.  He  was  my  favorite  cousin,  and 
it  was  almost  painful  to  see  his  spirits  as 
much  affected  by  my  sisters'  as  a  barometer 
is  by  the  weather. 

1  'Why  don't  you  say  something,"  she 
said  to  him,  after  reading  the  note  and 
watching  the  quiet,  grave  look  on  his  face. 

"What  shall  I  say? "  he  answered,  smiling 
with  her,  "I'm  here  to  talk  to  you."  And 
in  truth  he  did  appear  to  be  always  around 
for  that  purpose,  but  never  able  to  raise  his 
voice  to  the  occasion. 

' '  I  don't  know  whether  you  are  or  not. 
I've  been  reading  about  a  man  who  carried 
on  an  affair  simply  by  whistling.  But  even 


64  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

that  would  hardly  apply  to  you  after  taking 
part  in  that  duel.  You  certainly  would 
hardly  care  even  to  whistle  to  me,  or  you 
would  not  have  gone  with  them.  Perhaps 
you  are  here  to  eat  and  fight." 
"You  invited  me  to  breakfast." 
"Yes,  but  that  does  not  presuppose  you 
are  too  hungry  to  speak.  Perhaps  you 
think  I  asked  you  here  to  see  you  fight,  and 
then  satisfy  your  hunger.  You  don't  know 
why  I  asked  you  here.  If  you  are  here  to 
talk  to  me,  do  say  something.  Why  did  I 
ask  you  here  to  breakfast  ? " 

"Words  are  sometimes  used  to  convey 
ideas,"  I  suggested,  trying  to  help  Will 
along,  for  I  well  knew  how  little  women 
care  for  a  man  who  can't  say  something 
light  and  foolish  at  the  right  time. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  65 

"Or  to  conceal  them,"  said  Barren,  break- 
ing in  with  his  old  saw. 

"But  where  the  ideas  are  vague  and  not 
quite  well  defined,  what  then  ? "  asked 
Mary,  with  a  knowing  look  at  her  mother. 

"Then  I  don't  see  how  they  can  be  of 
any  value,  whatever,  and  I  don't  see  how 
I'll  ever  find  out  the  true  reason  for  my 
being  here,  though  I'd  much  like  to  know,' 
said  Will. 

"Quite  right,  Will."  said  my  mother 
smiling,  "  I  don't  care  for  vague  ideas  either 
— or  to  hear  a  man  and  woman  in  worthless 
gibble-gabble,  gibble-gabble.  If  there  is  a 
dearth  of  ideas,  one  reason  is  as  good  as 
another." 

"I  admire  silence,  also,"  laughed  Barron, 


66  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"for  there  is  an  old  saying  in  regard  to  its 
value.  But  at  the  same  time,  give  me 
plenty  of  plans,  schemes  and  feasibilities." 

"I  like  the  latter  well  enough  myself," 
said  Will,  so  dolefully  that  we  all  were 
forced  to  smile,  and  my  charming  sister 
laughed  outright,  saying — 

"  Certainly  Captain  Barrow's  conversation 
is  not  lacking  of  ideas,  but  then  he  is  a  blunt 
man,  and  plain,  so  it  is  hardly  to  be  ex- 
pected that  he  should  conceal  such  scintil- 
lating wit" — 

"Blunt  man, — and  soldier,  if  you  please," 
interrupted  Barren,  with  intense  gravity, 
seeing  his  chance  to  heal  the  rupture  be- 
tween himself  and  Mary. 

"I  may  add,   'and  soldier,'  when  I  see 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  67 

some  evidence  to  justify  it,"  retorted  my 
sister  with  a  little  energy.  But  Barron  only 
laughed  and  we  finally  adjourned  to  the 
verandah  in  a  more  civil  mood  than  when 
we  sat  down  to  breakfast. 
The  air  is  delightful  on  the  river  at  this 

time  of  year  of  which  I  speak,  and,  as  you 
probably  well  know,  has  a  soothing  effect 
on  the  nerves,  for  it  is  not  at  all  cool,  nor  is 
it  hot  enough  to  excite  the  circulation. 

We  sat  there  in  the  delicious,  fragrant 
breeze  for  some  minutes  before  we  were 
aware  of  the  approach  of  Berkley  Harrison, 
Phripps  and  Miss  Rose  Carter,  a  cousin  of 
Harrison's. 

Miss  Carter  had  come  over  with  her  maid 
to  nurse  her  cousin  the  moment  she  had 


68  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

heard  that  he  was  hurt,  and  as  Harrison 
lived  alone,  except  when  some  one  like 
Phripps  was  with  him,  a  woman  would  have 
been  a  good  person  to  have  had  at  hand, 
had  he  been  injured  badly,  or  had  my 
mother  and  sister  not  spent  most  of  their 
time  attending  to  his  wants. 

I  suppose  I  might  as  well  say,  before  going 
further,  that  although  I  am  only  a  poor 
Virginia  gentleman  who  has  nothing  but 
his  —  well,  estate  and  inheritance  —  I  had 
some  hope  of  raising  myself  to  a  position 
from  which  I  might  allow  my  gentler  pas- 
sions to  have  some  sway. 

You  will  understand  what  I  mean  when  I 
tell  you  that  for  beauty  of  face  and  figure, 
coupled  with  a  grace  beyond  description, 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  69 

Miss  Carter  was — well,  I  will  not  tire  you 
with  details  that  are  so  well  known.  And 
then,  again,  a  woman's  beauty  depends  en- 
tirely upon  her  attractiveness  to  a  man,  and 
some  men  will  see  beauty  in  one  way  and 
some  in  another;  never  all  alike.  Why,  I 
have  seen  the  niggers  in  the  slave  quarters 
let  Harrison's  house  servant,  Augeline, — a 
yellow  girl  of  remarkable  beauty, — pass  by 
unnoticed  and  then,  ten  minutes  later,  be 
peeping  and  spying  at  the  blackest  moke 
wench  that  ever  left  the  Guinea  coast. 

Harrison's  greeting,  this  morning,  was  a 
trifle  cool  to  Barron  and  myself,  and  his  ap- 
pearance was  not  improved  by  the  sinister 
look  of  his  shining  black  eyes.  These  were 
somewhat  sunken  in  his  pale  cheeks  and  had 


70  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

dark  crescents  beneath  them.  His  head  was 
bandaged,  but  a  skull  cap  covered  all  signs 
of  his  wound.  To  Will  Byrd  and  my  sister 
he  was  most  gracious,  and  he  even  bent  his 
wounded  head  to  kiss  the  tips  of  my  mother's 
thin  fingers. 

"  You  see,"  he  said,  after  Miss  Carter  and 
Phripps  had  made  their  greeting,  "I  took 
the  opportunity  to  come  over  to  tell  you 
that  Lord  Dunmore  has  sent  word  that  he 
fears  great  trouble  in  the  tide-water  districts, 
and  that  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  province 
were  making  ready  to  embark  on  his  vessels 
and  leave  with  their  families  until  the  insur- 
rection is  more  in  hand." 

"And  when  will  that  be?"  asked  my 
mother  w  some  alarm, 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  71 

"Oh,  only  a  few  weeks,  at  the  most," 
said  Phripps,  breaking  into  the  conversation. 
'Yes,  about  that  time,"  continued  Harri- 
son, "but  you  know  how  fanatical  such 
men  as  Bullet  and  Bullbeggor  are.  It's 
really  absurd  how  much  influence  that  beg- 
gar, Patrick  Henry,  has  over  such  ignorant 
men.  The  man  has  about  as  much  logic  in 
his  discourse  as  a  nigger  has  in  his,  but  he 
sways  his  followers  any  way  he  wishes,  and 
is  gaining  recruits  every  day.  I  suppose 
you  know  how  illiterate  the  fellow  is  ? " 

"And  how  rough  and  ill-bred,  "said  Miss 
Carter. 

"An  ill-favored  rogue  and  no  mistake/' 
said  Phripps. 

"Odious    men— vulgar    ruffians,    all   of 


72  RICHAKD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

them,"  said  Miss  Carter  and  Mary  together. 

"So  you  say  !"  murmured  Barren,  pleas- 
antly. 

"And  their  followers  are  a  pack  of  unhung 
thieves,"  added  Harrison  fiercely.  "No 
house  is  safe  while  they  roam  the  outlying 
counties  " 

"Mercy !"  quietly  interrupted  my  mother, 
who  felt  very  kindly  toward  the  revolution- 
ists, ' '  One  would  actually  suppose,  Mr. 
Harrison,  that  you  were  quite  unfriendly 
with  the  whole  party." 

And  when  she  finished  speaking  I  could 
see  Harrison's  eyes  fairly  blaze  with  anger. 
He  was  very  quiet,  however,  for  some  mo- 
ments, and  then  adding  that  it  would  be 
well  to  be  packed  and  ready  to  embark  with 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  73 

Lord  Dunmore  when  he  arrived,  he  turned 
to  my  sister  and  talked  of  other  matters. 

Barron  waxed  flippant  and  jolly  while 
talking  to  Phripps,  so  when  everybody  was 
in  good  humor  I  took  the  opportunity  to 
ask  Miss  Carter  to  help  me  hunt  thistles— 
for  my  mother. 

We  walked  some  distance  through  the 
fields,  and  found  few  thistles,  but  among 
other  matters  discussed  were  certain  charac- 
teristics of  Mr.  Berkley  Harrison. 

"The  most  accomplished  and  perfect  gen- 
tleman in  the  province,"  said  Eose. 

"But,  my  dear  Rose,  he  is  so  uncommon 
vain  " — 

"By  which,  I  suppose,  you  mean  simply 
that  he  has  a  decent  opinion  of  himself. 


74  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

owing  to  his  birth  and  position,"  she  inter- 
rupted. "A  man  who  hasn't  a  proper  opin- 
ion of  himself,  seldom  has  one  of  any  of  his 
friends  or  acquaintances." 

" Quite  true,"  I  answered,  ubut" — 

"Do  you  really  object  to  him  so  much  ?" 
she  broke  in.  And  as  she  smiled  and 
blushed  slightly  I  followed  the  direction  of 
her  look  and  saw  Mary  and  Harrison  stand- 
ing together  at  the  corner  of  the  box-  hedge 
of  the  driveway. 

"  You  could  hardly  expect  a  gentleman  of 
cousin  Berk's  antecedents  to  agree  with  the 
absurd  ideas  of  government  you  pretend 
to,"  she  continued. 

"The  matter  is  possibly  open  to  discus- 
sion," I  answered  a  little  stiffly. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  75 

"Oh,  no  offence,  my  dear  Dick.  You 
know  the  laws  of  human  nature  as  well  as  I 
do.  Those  who  are  governed  and  have  little 
are  always  antagonistic  to  those  who  govern 
and  have  much,  no  matter  how  perfect  that 
government  is." 

"Yes,  I  know,"  I  answered,  "  there  is  no 
such  thing  as  justice  in  this  world.  Even 
the  Bible,  most  holy  of  records,  disclaims  it, 
saying,  that  those  who  have  little  shall  have 
that  little  taken  from  them  and  given  to 
those  who  have  much.  At  least  that  is 
what  I  make  of  it,  but  even  if  there  should 
be  a  small  minority  to  govern  and  grind  a 
large  majority,  the  majority  should  have  its 
representatives  to  see  that  no  unjust  " 

"Nonsense!"    she    interrupted,     "ThosQ 


76  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

who  represented  it  would  soon  acquire  the 
same  habits  and  tendency  as  the  minority, 
without  even  the  leavening  of  high  birth 
and  education  the  minority  already  have. 
There  are  some  people  born  with  high  ideas 
who  are  intended  by  Providence  to  govern 
always.  They  are  superior  in  feeling — but 
hush!  What  is  cousin  Berk  doing?" 

We  were  now  close  to  where  Harrison 
and  Mary  were  standing,  and  I  noticed  that 
he  peered  cautiously  over  the  hedge  at  some 
object  that  lay  on  the  other  side  in  the  sun- 
shine. We  turned  the  angle  of  the  drive 
way  and  as  we  did  so  I  saw  my  boy,  Sam, 
lying  at  full  length  upon  the  grass,  looking 
quietly  up  into  Harrison's  face  with  an  ex- 
pression of  carious  interest  showing  upon 
his  black  features. 


BICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  77 

"Are  you  busy,  Sam?"  asked  Harrison 
softly,  not  noticing  my  approach. 

"  Yessah,"  replied  Sam  without  moving. 

"Eh!  What?"  and  I  saw  him  grasp  his 
cane  firmly  in  his  hand  behind  his  back, 

"Yessah,"  continued  Sam,  "I'se  been 
lying  here  fo'  quite  a  spell,  sah,  listenin'  to 
my  heart  beatin'." 

"So,  so,"  said  Harrison  quietly,  measur- 
ing his  distance.  Then  he  flashed  out— 
"You  infernal,  impudent  nigger! "  And  he 
smote  Sam  a  crack  over  the  head  that 
brought  him  to  his  feet  with  a  wicked  look 
in  his  eyes. 

"Superior  feeling!"  I  muttered  angrily, 
and  I  saw  Miss  Carter  blush.  Then  step- 
ping further  out  into  view  I  caught  Sam's 


78  RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

eye  in  time  to  avert  further  trouble,  for  he 
had  never  been  handled  before  by  anyone — 
except,  perhaps,  myself. 

"Go  to  the  quarters,  Sam,"  I  cried,  and 
as  I  did  so  I  saw  Harrison  start  at  the  sound 
of  my  voice  and  notice  me. 

I  would  have  given  something  to  have 
seen  what  Sam  intended  to  do  after  that 
look, — for  he  was  a  big,  black,  powerful, 
hog-nosed  nigger,  capable  of  some  little  mis- 
chief— but  the  ladies  being  present,  such 
intentions  were,  of  course,  impossible.  Sam 
obeyed  me  instantly  and  went  quickly 
toward  the  stables  with  his  broad  shoulders 
well  squared  and  his  head  up,  and  Harrison 
continued  on  his  way  with  my  charming 
sister  upon  his  arm. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  79 

"1  suppose,"  I  said,  looking  askance  at 
Miss  Carter,  "  this  is  the  superior  feeling  of 
the  governing  class  which  we  have  just  wit- 
nessed ?" 

"What  would  that  black  boy  have 
done  ? "  she  said,  in  alarm.  "  I  saw  the  look 
in  his  eyes  that  certainly  meant  more  than 
disobedience." 

"Oh,  Sam  is  a  true  and  trained  Chris- 
tian," I  answered,  somewhat  nettled  at  the 
scene.  "I  taught  him  the  doctrine  of  for- 
bearance myself  and  I  have  seen  him  prac- 
tice it  to  some  advantage." 

"And  what  was  that?"  asked  Rose, 
sweetly,  looking  up  at  me  with  her  lovely 
violet  eyes  that  still  showed  traces  of  her 
alarm. 


80  RICHARD  JUDKINS1   WOOING 

"Well,  the  last  overseer  I  had  was  a  man 
of  superior  feeling  who  belonged  to  the 
governing  class — and  he  started  to  govern 
accordingly.  He  smote  Sam  savagely  upon 
the  side  of  his  bullet  head,  one  day,  and 
knocked  him  down.  Sam  jumped  up  and 
rose  to  his  full  height,  offering  the  other 
side  of  his  head  without  so  much  as  a  word. 
The  fellow,  John  Smith,  struck  him  again, 
like  a  fool,  and  stretched  Sam  senseless  for 
half  an  hour." 

"And  then?" 

"Oh,  then  Sam  came  to,  and  as  soon  as 
he  could  stand,  he  drew  his  corn  knife  and 
it  was  all  we  could  do  to  keep  him  from 
killing  that  overseer.  As  it  was,  he  got  so 
badly  cut  that  he  would  never  come  back 
again  to  the  Hall." 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  81 

I  saw  Miss  Carter  pale  slightly. 

"Are  many  of  your  people  so  brutal  and 
blood-thirsty  ? "  she  asked. 

"Sam  is  neither  one  nor  the  other,  but  as 
good  a  boy  as  ever  followed  a  gentleman  "- 

"For  revenge,  do  you  mean?  If  that  is 
so,  I  think  the  sooner  I  tell  Berk — Mr.  Har- 
rison, the  better." 

"Oh,  Lord,  no,"  I  cried,  "I  mean  as  a 
servant.  Even  Major  Bullbeggor  allows 
him  the  privilege  of  serving  him,  and  you 
know  how  particular  he  is.  But  why  so 
anxious  about  Berk  Harrison's  welfare  ?  " 

"I  am  his  cousin,"  answered  Miss  Carter, 
stiffly. 

The  tone  of  her  voice  was  enough.  But 
Heavens !  A  man  must  take  his  strokes, 


82  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

mental  or  physical,  without  too  much 
wincing.  As  for  me,  I  like  the  man  who 
can  meet  them  with  a  smilo  on  his  lips  and 
talk  in  a  steady,  natural  voice  while  his 
heart  stops  beating  and  the  iron  grip  of  sor- 
row holds  his  throat  like  a  vice.  The  tone 
of  Rose  Carter's  voice,  that  day,  told  me 
something  in  regard  to  cousinly  feeling. 
But  no  matter.  Our  greatest  sorrows  are 
not  nearly  so  heavy  some  years  afterwards 
and — 

As  I  said,  I  felt  a  sensation,  similar  I  now 
believe,  to  that  which  a  few  others  have 
felt  before.  But  a  man  in  love  is  never  a 
philosopher — and  he  is  generally  hasty  and 
selfish. 

"I  congratulate  you,   my  dear  Kose,  on 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  83 

your  relationship,"  I  said  coldly,  and  the 
blood  rushed  through  her  face  and  left  it 
whiter  than  before. 

"Do  you  know,  my  dear  Dick,  you  some- 
times bore  me  most  stupidly?"  she  an- 
swered. And  this  commonplace  incident 
ended. 

Commonplace  it  was  indeed,  but  what  it 
meant  to  certain  affairs  which  happened 
afterward,  you  may  judge,  if  you  care  to 
listen.  It  is  the  little  commonplace  affairs 
that  influence  the  lives  of  most  people,  as 
anyone  may  remember  who  cares  to  look  at 
the  past. 


CHAPTER  IV  j 

Dunmore  failed  to  appear  the  next  day, 
and  Harrison  came  over  to  the  Hall  and  had 
the  pleasure  of  the  company  of  both  Mary 
and  his  cousin  to  beguile  him. 

Will  and  I,  accompained  by  Barren,  whom 
we  persuaded  to  join  us  as  a  sort  of  spirit 
raiser,  took  our  fowling  pieces,  a  pair  of 
good  dogs  and  Sam,  and  sought  distraction 
in  the  covers  below  the  bend.  It  is  astonish- 
ing how  sympathetic  young  men  of  good 
antecedents  will  become  under  certain  cir- 
cumstances. I  always  liked  my  cousin 
Will,  and  it  seemed  to  me  now  that  my 
sister  was  cruel,  and  he  a  much  abused 

(84) 


KICHAKD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  85 

friend,  since  Miss  Carter  and  I  had  had  a 
sort  of  understanding  between  us.  But  no 
matter,  Will  and  I  had  always  been  drawn 
together,  and  our  silent  companionship  was 
very  soothing  and  restful  in  spite  of  Bar- 
ron's  incessant  story  telling  and  irrational 
humor. 

The  old  soldier  had  followed  around  all 
day  without  so  much  as  firing  his  piece, 
which  he  insisted  on  having  Sam  carry  with 
the  flints  at  full  cock — much  to  my  boy's 
disgust.  I  had  always  taught  Sam  to  be 
careful  with  weapons,  but  Barren  insisted 
on  readiness  above  all  things,  and  would  not 
allow  the  flints  down.  We  had  bagged 
several  brace  of  fine  birds  while  he  was 
engaged  in  other  matters,  and  after  seeing 


86  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

that  Will  and  I  were  having  all  the  spoil 
he  wished  to  have  his  weapon  ready  but 
still  refused  to  carry  it.  Twice  there  had 
been  premature  explosions,  the  last  of 
which  tore  off  the  rim  of  the  old  soldier's 
hat,  but,  after  each  discharge,  he  made  Sam 
reload  and  proceeded  on  his  way,  tranquilly 
spinning  story  after  story  in  high  good 
humor,  and  avoiding  anything  that  might 
ruffle  the  feelings  of  young  men  in— well, 
say  in  an  uneasy,  or  perhaps  diseased  state 
of  mind. 

We  tramped  along  all  day,  and  late  in  the 
afternoon  we  were  to  the  eastward  of  the 
bend  and  making  our  way  slowly  through 
the  heavy  timber  towards  the  river  in  the 
lower  reach.  Will  was  slightly  in  advance 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  87 

of  the  rest  of  us,  and  as  he  broke  through 
the  thick  fringe  of  cover  near  the  river 
bank,  he  gave  a  sudden  cr}^  of  astonishment 
and  stopped.  Sam  promptly  caught  the 
look  of  Barren's  gun  in  some  undergrowth 
and  instantly  exploded  it,  much  to  our 
annoyance,  as  it  peppered  my  favorite  setter 
severely  and  sent  him  howling  down  the 
river  shore  with  a  dozen  or  more  small  shot 
sunk  deep  in  his  hide. 

In  a  moment  we  cleared  the  pines,  and 
the  first  thing  that  met  our  gaze  was  the 
Fowey,  frigate,  close  to  the  beach  and  stand- 
ing up  the  river  with  all  her  working 
canvas  set  and  her  guns  run  out  ready  for 
action.  Behind  her  came  several  smaller 
rraft,  apparently  crowded  with  men  and 


88  RICHARD   JUDKINS'    WOOING 

guns.  One  glance  at  the  ship  told  plainly 
who  she  was,  and  upon  her  high  poop 
strode  a  man  fore  and  aft  whom  we  had  no 
difficulty  in  recognizing  as  Lord  Dunmore, 
His  Majesty's  Governor  of  Virginia. 

We  were  less  than  half  a  mile  distant,  but 
the  shadow  of  the  pines  made  it  much  more 
difficult  for  those  on  board  to  see  us,  half 
concealed  as  we  were  in  the  long  grass  and 
low  bushes,  than  for  us  to  see  them.  The 
poor  dog,  however,  howled  dismally,  .and 
the  report  of  the  gun  was  evidently  mis- 
taken for  the  discharge  of  a  hostile  rifle,  for 
in  a  moment  a  great  cloud  of  white  smoke 
burst  from  the  frigate's  broadside,  and  the 
same  instant  the  air  seemed  alive  with 
grape-shot,  while  the  jarring  report  of  a 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  89 

twenty  pounder  echoed  along  the  shore 
The  balls  tore  with  a  loud,  ripping,  rush 
through  the  pine  tops  and  crashed  through 
the  undergrowth.  One  of  them  striking 
the  butt  of  Will's  gun  smashed  it  to  bits  and 
knocked  him  endways  into  the  woods. 

To  say  we  were  a  little  surprised  at  this 
reception  would  hardly  describe  our  feel- 
ings. I  made  a  spring  for  cover  and  hugged 
a  large  tree  trunk  as  though  a  storm  were 
breaking  over  me,  and  as  I  did  so  I  heard 
Sam  give  a  yell  and  disappear  as  if  the 
earth  had  swallowed  him  up. 

It  was  over  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to 
tell  of  it,  and  I  stepped  out  to  see  Barren 
laughing  heartily  as  he  dragged  Will  to  his 
feet. 


90  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"They  do  make  a  most  valuable  noise," 
he  laughed,  "but  there's  little  harm  in 
them.  The  devil!  You  were  lucky  in  not 
getting  that  into  you— mere  chance  though." 
And  he  picked  up  Will's  shattered  gun. 

"If  that's  the  reception  Dunmore  is  going 
to  give  us,  I  think  we  might  as  well  keep  on 
to  Williamsburg  and  join  Mr.  Henry's  men," 
said  Will,  looking  somewhat  disturbed  in 
mind.  "  I  never  had  a  high  opinion  of  his 
lordship's  manners,  but  this  is  going  it  a 
little  too  far.  I  wish  I  had  my  rifle,  I  would 
see  if  he  would  do  a  little  jumping  at  the 
crack  of  it.  Here,  Sam!  Give  me  the  Cap- 
tain's gun  and  I  will  load  with  ball  and  have 
a  try  at  him." 

'•Is  it  over,   Marse  Dick?"  asked  Sam's 


RICHARD  JUDKISTS'   WOOING  91 

voice  coolly  from  somewhere  in  the  thick 
bushes. 

"  Come  out,  you  black  rascal!"  "cried  Bar- 
ron,  and  presently  Sam  emerged  from  cover 
rapidly  reloading  Barren's  weapon,  at  the 
same  time  keeping  an  eye  on  the  vessels  as 
if  expecting  an  attack. 

"Don't  do  anything  foolish,  Will,"  I 
said,  as  I  saw  his  temper  rising,  "It  is  a 
serious  matter  to  fire  on  His  Majesty's  Gov- 
enor.  Besides,  here  comes  a  boat  from  the 
first  schooner  to  inquire  into  our  affairs." 

While  I  spoke,  the  vessel  close  in  the  frig- 
ate's wake  luffed  sharply,  and  as  her  head- 
way slackened,  a  gig  full  of  soldiers,  pulled 
by  four  stout  niggers,  shot  away  from  her 
side  and  came  rapidly  towards  us. 


92  KICHAKD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

Then  the  vessel  tacked  ship  and  stood 
slowly  in  after  the  boat,  her  head  sheets 
slacked  off  to  stop  her  headway  and  the 
black  muzzle  of  a  long  twelve  pounder  stick- 
ing half  a  fathom  clear  of  her  forecastle  rail. 

We  stood  in  a  group  on  the  sand  and 
awaited  developments,  supposing,  of  course, 
that  as  soon  as  we  were  recognized  the  ves- 
sel would  proceed  on  her  course  in  the  wake 
of  the  frigate. 

Dunmore  we  all  knew  quite  well,  for  he 
had  been  several  times  to  the  Hall  and  had 
often  visited  Will  Byrd's  cousin  at  the  mag- 
nificent estate  at  Westover. 

As  the  boat  load  of  soldiers  neared  the 
shore  the  schooner  luffed  again  within  easy 
hailing  distance,  and  a  man  standing  by  the 
forecastle  gun  hailed  us. 


RICHARD  JDDKINS'   WOOING  93 

"  Throw  down  your  arms,  you  dogs,  or 
I'll  blow  you  off  the  ground  ! "  he  roared. 

"The  devil !"  exclaimed  Barren,  "I  won- 
der if  he  means  that  for  us  ?  But  our  dogs 
are  not  armed." 

"Bang! "went  the  long  twelve  pounder 
in  a  cloud  of  smoke,  without  another  mo- 
ment's warning,  and  a  shot  whistled  over 
the  small  boat  and  struck  the  beach  a  few 
feet  in  front  and  to  the  right  of  us.  A  storm 
of  sand  and  gravel  drove  into  our  midst, 
staggering  and  blinding  me  so  that  I  fell 
against  Will,  who  in  turn  fell  to  the  ground, 
swearing  furiously. 

A  small  particle  had  struck  him  with  great 
violence  in  the  eye,  and  in  his  fury  at  this 
bruta1  onslaught  he  sprang  to  his  feet. 


94  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

grabbed  my  gun  from  my  hands,  before  I 
had  recovered  sufficiently  to  stop  him,  and 
fired  a  load  of  small  shot  slap  into  the  boat 
full  of  men  just  as  its  keel  touched  the 
sand.  A  perfect  roar  of  curses  followed,  as 
the  soldiers  received  the  scattering  charge. 
Then  Barron  seized  Will,  and  just  as  several 
men  leaped  ashore  with  their  guns  raised  to 
shoot,  all  three  of  us  were  struggling  on  the 
ground.  Sam,  left  alone  to  face  the  loaded 
muskets,  dropped  Barren's  gun  and  instantly 
disappeared  with  a  couple  of  musket  balls 
snipping  through  the  brushwood  after  him. 
The  next  instant  we  were  surrounded  by 
men  and  dragged  to  our  feet,  while  a  short, 
but  big-limbed  Irish  sergeant  stood  near  and 
gave  orders  to  his  crew  not  to  bayonet  us. 


K1CHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  95 

"Who  are  you,  and  where's  the  rest  of 
you  ? "  snapped  a  grizzled,  lean-faced  officer, 
running  up  with  his  sword  drawn  and  look- 
ing full  at  Barron. 

"I  am  Jameson  Barron,  Es'q.,  sir,"  said 
the  Captain,  smiling  pleasantly,  "and  as 
for  the  rest  of  me,  I  believe  it  is  in  Rich- 
mond. Dr.  MeGruire  cut  it  off  the  day  after 
Braddock  was  killed  and  put  it  into  a  small 
flask  of  alcohol."  And  he  held  up  his  left 
hand  from  which  the  last  finger  was  miss- 
ing. 

"None  of  your  jokes,  sir,"  snapped  the 
officer.  "Where's  the  rest  of  your  party?" 

Barron  looked  about  him. 

"Sam  ! "  he  called  loudly.     " Sam  ! " 

"I  guess  he's  taken  the  track,"  he  contin- 


96  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

ued,  quietly,  "but  must  still  be  within  a 
mile  of  us.  However,  before  we  go  too 
deeply  into  the  case,  sir,  you  will  oblige  us 

greatly  by  stating  your  authority  for  firing 
upon  gentlemen  who  are  in  no  way  hostile 

to  His  Majesty." 

"  Yes,"  I  said,  "  I  am  Richard  Judkins,  o 
Judkins'  Hall,  sir,  and  am  well  known  to 
Lord  Dunmore.  By  what  right, do  you  fire 
upon  us  while  we  are  simply  out  shooting 
for  sport."  Here  I  looked  around  for  our 
bag  and  ammunition  flasks  to  prove  the 
statement,  if  necessary;  but  Sam,  who  had 
been  carrying  almost  everything,  had  run 
into  the  bushes  before  dropping  his  burdens, 
and  they  were  out  of  sight. 

The  ammunition  left  us  was  not  of  a  char- 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  97 

acter  to  corroborate  my  statement  to  any 
degree  of  exactness.  It  consisted  now  of 
several  musket  balls  that  Will  bad  put  in 
his  pocket  for  use  in  case  we  had  met  larger 
game. 

"Sport,  eh  !"  snarled  the  officer,  rubbing 
his  shoulder  where  a  shot  had  penetrated 
the  skin.  "You'll  see  sport  enough  before 
we  get  through  with  you.  You  may  start 
on  them,  sergeant." 

He  turned  away  abruptly  on  saying  this, 
and,  with  half  a  dozen  men  deployed  as 
skirmishers,  proceeded  to  examine  the  edges 
of  the  forest  for  traces  of  a  hidden  foe. 

"So  'tis  sport  ye're  afther,  hey  ?"  said  the 
sergeant.  "Give  yourself  no  oneasiness, 
ye'll  see  it  fast  enough.  Rooney,  me  sowl, 


98  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

lay  yer  hand  tinderly  on  yer  trigger,  while  I 
investigate  the  handsome  old  un,  an'  if  he 
so  much  as  winks  his  ears,  blow  his  tripes 
out,  d'ye  see  ? " 

Barron  made  no  further  comment,  except 
to  inquire  of  private  Rooney  what  particular 
part  of  his  anatomy  held  the  "tripes "al- 
luded to  by  the  sergeant. 

"Hold  yer  tongue,  ye  handsome  old  man,' 
said  that  officer.  "My  sowl,  but  ye  have  a 
dacent  figure  av  a  soldier,  despite  the  years 
av  yer  cocoanut.  Fancy  him,  boys,  squint- 
ing wan  av  thim  oies  av  his  at  a  leddy,"  and 
he  ended  with  a  hoarse  chuckle,  while  he 
carefully  went  through  Barren's  pockets. 

We  were  each  examined  in  turn,  but 
nothing  of  a  hostile  nature  was  discovered, 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  99 

except  Will's  half  dozen  bullets.  These, 
with  our  tobacco  and  snuff  boxes,  were  care- 
fully tied  up  in  a  handkerchief  and  carried 
by  the  sergeant  to  the  boat.  Our  guns  were 
also  appropriated. 

The  officer  in  charge  returned  presently 
from  his  search  along  the  shore,  and  having 
found  nothing  in  the  shape  of  a  foe,  he  or- 
dered all  hands  into  the  boat. 

I  protested  with  some  energy  against  this 
high  handed  proceeding,  but  was  instantly 
seized  by  several  soldiers  while  another 
stuck  his  bayonet  point  half  an  inch  into 
my  back.  Will  was  treated  in  the  same 
manner,  and  Barren,  knowing  resistance  to 
be  useless,  set  us  the  example  by  walking 
quickly  to  the  boat  and  climbing  aboard. 


100  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

In  a  few  minutes  we  were  on  our  way  to 
the  schooner. 

As  we  drew  near,  I  noticed  the  vessel's 
peculiar  rig.  She  appeared  light  in  the 
water,  with  long  overhang  fore  and  aft, 
and  her  masts  raked  backwards  to  the  last 
degree.  Her  spars  were  long  and  tapering, 
and  new,  while  her  bulwarks  appeared  to 
have  been  built  up  to  the  height  of  a  frig- 
ate's, showing  that  she  was  evidently  some 
fast  vessel  altered  and  fitted  up  for  the  work 
Dunmore  had  planned  on  the  river.  Four 
ports  cut  in  her  broadsides  held  the  black 
muzzles  of  her  battery  of  light  twelves, 
while  on  the  forecastle  was  the  pivot  gun  of 
heavier  metal,  which  had  been  discharged 
at  us  a  few  minutes  before.  Men  swarmed 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'    WOOING  101 

on  her  main  deck  and   about  her  battery 

j 

while  small  knots  stood  with  the  sheets  in 
hand  ready  for  further  orders. 

The  man  who  had  hailed  us  from  the  fore- 
castle, and  had  fired  without  further  warn- 
ing, now  stood  at  the  starboard  gangway, 
where  a  hanging  companionway  trailed  in 
the  water.  He  wore  a  shabby  uniform, 
such  as  I  had  seen  some  of  Dunmore's  offi- 
cers wear  when  doing  their  so-called  patrol 
duty  on  the  river.  He  was  short  and  stout, 
with  a  red  face,  his  shifty,  fishy  eyes  look- 
ing like  two  little  gray  dots  on  either  side  of 
a  nose  that  much  resembled  a  boil. 

As  we  drew  alongside  he  bawled  out 
orders,  the  men  hauled  flat  the  head  sheets, 
and  instantly  the  schooner  began  to  forge 


102  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

ahead.  Some  one  threw  a  line  and  a  man 
in  the  boat  caught  it,  making  her  fast  at  the 
companionway,  up  which  the  officer  in 
charge  of  us  scrambled  to  the  main  deck. 
We  were  quickly  sent  aboard,  followed  by 
the  boat's  crew,  and  were  lined  up  in  the 
gangway  between  a  file  of  soldiers,  while 
the  small  boat  was  dropped  astern  to  tow 
in  the  vessel's  wake. 


CHAPTER  V 

We  were  slightly  bewildered  at  the 
rapidity  and  novelty  of  the  events  which 
were  happening,  and  for  some  moments  I 
stood  and  gazed  at  the  hurrying  men,  who 
appeared  to  obey  a  man  with  a  shrill 
whistle  whose  notes  rose  and  fell  with  long 
undulations.  No  misunderstanding  seemed 
possible,  for  each  note  appeared  to  mean  an 
order,  which  sounded  high  above  the  rattle 
of  the  vessel's  gear.  I  was  something  of  a 
yachtsman,  and  took  great  interest  until 
aware  of  the  presence  of  the  stout  man  with 
the  red  nose.  He  was  in  command  of  the 
schooner,  and  he  now  stood  before  us,  gaz- 

(103) 


104  BICHABD   JUDKINS'    WOOING 

ing  at  us  as  if  we  were  wild  animals  of  an 
unknown  kind.  Two  or  three  younger  men 
in  the  group  that  gathered  about  us  appeared 
to  be  officers,  but  I  had  never  met  any  of 
them  before,  so  they  joined  their  captain  in 
his  curious  gaze.  Finally  the  Captain  spoke. 

"Mr.  Kose,"  he  said,  in  a  thick,  raucous 
voice,  "are  these  the  men  who  fired  on 
us?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  our  thin  faced  captor, 
holding  the  handkerchief  containing  our 
valuables  in  one  hand,  while  he  saluted  with 
the  other. 

"Then  what  d'ye  mean  by  bringing  them 
aboard  this  vessel,  sir  ?"  he  roared.  "Hav- 
en't I  told  you,  sir,  to  shoot  every  rebel 
caught  with  arms  oil  him  ?  Hey !  Aus- 


BICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  105 

wer  me  that,  sir  !  Answer,  or  I'll  break 
you  sir ! " 

"They  claim  to  be  gentlemen,  Captain 
Cahill,"  said  our  captor,  meekly. 

"  Blast  you  !  Do  you  mean  to  disobey 
me,  sir?  Answer  my  question,  sir,  or  by 
breechins  and  blackskin  I'll  break  you  sir  !  " 
roared  the  captain. 

"Yes,  sir;  yes,  sir,  you  did,"  answered  the 
lieutenant,  quickly.  "You  gave  me  orders 
to  shoot  every  rebel  caught  in  arms,  who 
refused  to  surrender.  But  these  men  claim 
to  be  gentlemen  and  not  rebels.  This  one," 
and  he  pointed  to  me,  "claims  to  be  a 
friend  of  Lord  Dunmore's." 

"  Claims  !  "  roared  the  Captain,  getting 
almost  purple  in  the  face,  and  it  really 


106  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

appeared  as  if  he  were  going  off  in  a  fit- 
"  Claims  ! "  And  then  he  simply  drew  in 
breath  for  a  moment  to  gather  power  to 
express  himself.  Here  was  an  opportunity, 
I  thought,  so  I  broke  in— 

"Yes,  sir,"  I  said,  "I  am  well  know  to 
Lord  Dunmore,  and  also  to  nearly  every 
gentleman  on  the  river.  I  am  Richard 
Judkins,  of  Judkins'  Hall,  and  I " — 

"Shut  up!"  he  roared.  "Don't  you 
speak  to  me  sir.  If  you  do  I'll  cut  you 
down  where  you  stand."  And  he  drew  his 
sword.  "You  may  be  Richard  Perkins, 
of  Perkins'  Hell,  or  any  other  hell,  but  if 
Lord  Dunmore  knows  you  he  knows  an 
unhung  scoundrel.  Don't  glare  at  me,  sir  ; 
don't  glare  at  me  that  way,  or  I'll  cut  you 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  107 

down  where  you  stand,"  and  he  advanced 
a  step  towards  me. 

"I  am  a  Virginia  gentleman,  sir,  and  I 
demand  to  be  treated  as  such, "  I  said. 

"  You  are  a  liar  and  a  villian,"  he  roared, 
"and  I  will  treat  you  as  such,"  and  with 
that  he  made  a  pass  at  my  head  that  would 
certainly  have  finished  me,  had  I  not  jumped 
suddenly  backwards  into  the  arms  of  a 
soldier  behind  me.  At  the  same  instant 
Will  Byrd  sprang  forward  to  ward  off  the 
blow. 

He  caught  the  skipper's  sword  arm  with 
his  right  hand  and  instantly  dealt  him  a 
powerful  blow  just  under  the  ear  with  his 
left.  It  sent  the  man  to  the  deck  as  limp 
as  a  rag,  with  his  sword  clattering  after 


108  BICHAKD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

him.  The  next  instant  Will  was  seized  and 
thrown  down  and  a  line  quickly  passed 
around  him,  lashing  his  arms  to  his  sides. 
Then  Barron  and  I  were  served  likewise. 

The  Captain  lay  on  the  deck  as  if  dead, 
so  in  a  few  moments  he  was  picked  up  and 
carried  below  to  be  nursed  back  to  con- 
sciousness. In  the  mean  time  the  schooner 
had  been  standing  up  the  river  under  all 
sail,  with  the  breeze  abeam,  and  was 
rapidly  nearing  the  frigate  that  was  sailing 
under  easy  canvas  to  allow  her  to  catch  up 
and  report  the  news  of  the  affair  on  the 
shore. 

"  Carry  the  prisoners  below  in  the  fore- 
hold,"  ordered  Mr.  Rose,  who  was  now  in 
command,  and  we  were  quickly  carried 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  109 

down  through  the  forehatch  into  a  dark, 
ill-smelling  hole  filled  with  bunks  and  all 
sorts  of  ship  junk,  and  there  we  were  left 
with  a  couple  of  men  to  guard  us. 

I  stretched  myself  comfortably  on  a  coil 
of  rope  and  awaited  developments,  thinking, 
of  course,  that  the  instant  Dunmore  heard 
our  names  we  would  be  released. 

"It's  no  use,  we  are  in  for  it,"  said 
Barren,  smiling,  "I  only  hope  we  will  catch 
up  with  the  frigate  before  Captain  Cahill 
recovers  from  that  tap.  Very  neatly  done, 
Will,  most  remarkable — if  it  had  been  a 
trifle  further  forward  though  it  would  have 
made  a  pretty  mess  of  things  —  Hello  ! 
What's  that?" 

We   were    on    the   weather    side   of    the 


110  RICHARD  JUDKINS'    WOOING 

schooner,  and  she  was  heeling  over  and 
going  through  the  water  at  a  great  rate. 
The  rush  of  the  waves  was  quite  loud  and 
continuous  against  the  vessel's  side,  but 
above  the  noise  I  could  hear  a  hail  from 
somewhere  in  the  distance  to  windward. 
Then  came  an  answer  from  the  schooner's 
deck — 

"Three  men!"  bawled  Mr.  Eose  from 
somewhere  above  us.  Then  came  another 
hail. 

"Don't  know,"  bawled  the  Lieutenant  in 
reply.  "One  named  Perkins,  of  Perkins' 
hole." 

Then  came  another  pause  followed  by  an- 
other hail. 

"Two  young — one  old,  with  a  face  like 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  111 

the  breech  of  a  brass  carronnade — all  alive 
and  well — no  one  hurt." 

A  pause. 

"Didn't  suppose  you  knew  them" — 

Another  pause. 

"  Will  not  hurt  them,  sir"- 

Then  came  a  pause,  followed  by  a  hail  I 
could  just  distinguish  as  the  vessels  neared 
each  other. 

"  Keep  them  until  his  lordship  has  time  to 
look  into  the  matter,"  said  the  voice  faintly 
in  the  distance. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  bawled  Mr.  Rose. 

"Hold  on,"  I  cried  desperately,  "tell  him 
who  we  are  and  let  us  go  ashore.  This  out- 
rage has  gone  far  enough  " — 

"  Kape  quiet,  ye  gentleman,  or  I'll  be  for 


112  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

jabbing  yez  with  me  baynit,"  growled  pri- 
vate Rooney,  and  he  held  the  point  against 
my  ribs. 

"  It's  no  use,"  said  Barron,  smiling  pleas- 
antly, uwe  are  in  for  some  sport.  It's  a 
wonder,  though,  that  his  lordship  didn't 
recognize  me  from  that  lieutenant's  descrip- 
tion "- 

"Ef  yez  opin  that  ugly  mug  agin,  afore 
the  lootinant  comes  below,  I'll  cut  off  yer 
elephant  years  and  jam  them  into  it,'"  said 
the  soldier,  Rooney.  And  then  we  kept 
quiet  while  the  schooner  drove  steadily  along 
up  the  river.  Sometimes  she  tacked  around 
the  bends  and  sometimes  she  flew  along 
with  the  wind  fair,  but  before  dark  we  knew 
by  the  sound  of  the  rushing  water,  that 


KICHARD   JUDKINS'    WOOING  113 

could  be  distinctly  heard  through  her  sides, 
she  had  traveled  many  miles,  and  we  were  a 
long  way  from  Judkins'  Hall. 

Just  before  coming  to  an  anchor  for  the 
night  the  forecastle  pivot-gun  was  fired  at 
some  hostile  object,  and  there  appeared  to  be 
some  excitement  on -deck,  but  this  soon  sub- 
sided. Then  the  anchor  chain  roared  through 
the  hawse  pipe  and  the  sound  of  rushing 
water  ceased.  Men  began  to  swarm  below, 
and  it  was  evident  that  the  schooner  had 
made  her  run  for  the  day,  and  that  unless 
Lord  Duiimore  interested  himself  quickly  in 
our  behalf  we  would  spend  the  night  un- 
comfortably. 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  the  ser- 
geant who  had  captured  us  came  below.  He 


114  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

made  his  way  to  where  we  lay  through  the 
crowd  of  sailors  and  soldiers  who  were  sit- 
ting about  talking  and  eating  their  evening 
meal,  and  looking  at  us. 

"  Th'  Captin  wishes  to  say  a  few  whurds  t' 
th'  gentilman  what  stretched  him  out  this 
day  on  th'  main  deck,"  he  observed  to  the 
men  guarding  us.  "'Twas  a  good  stroke, 
sure,  but  the  Captin  av  th'  Hound  keel- 
hauled two  men,  just  lately,  for  trying  to 
excite  dishorder  on  th'  beach,  so  it  must  be 
a  hanging  th'  owld  man  is  afther  to-night. 
Bring  thim  right  along  wid  ye,  me  sons." 

Then  he  made  his  way  on  deck  and  we 
followed  after  him  with  a  soldier  at  each 
elbow. 

We  went  quickly  aft,  amd  just  as  I  turned 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  115 

to  go  down  the  cabin  companionway  I  looked 
astern  and  saw  the  dark  loom  of  the  frigate's 
hull  through  the  darkness.  Then  we  filed 
below  into  the  Captain's  cabin.  At  the  head 
of  the  cabin  table  sat  Captain  Cahill,  and  in 
front  of  him  stood  a  flask  of  spirits.  On 
either  side,  within  easy  reach,  lay  a  pistol 
with  the  flint  cocked  back  over  the  priming, 
and  behind  the  Captain's  chair  stood  Mr. 
Eose  and  two  other  officers.  The  Captain 
looked  little  the  worse  for  the  blow  Will  had 
given  him,  but  his  eyes  shone  fierce  and 
green  as  a  tiger's,  as  they  met  my  cousin's 
look. 

"Captain  Cahill,"  said  I,  "for  I  believe 
that's  your  name,  you  will  do  yourself  a 
favor  if  you  set  us  ashore  instantly.  This 
outrage,  sir,  has  gone  far  enough." 


116  RICHARD  JUDKDSTS'   WOOING 

He  turned  his  fierce  little  shifty  eyes  to 
me,  but  took  no  other  notice  of  my  words. 
He  sat  there,  silent  and  grim,  and  slowly 
filled  his  glass  from  the  bottle  in  front  of 
him.  Then  he  drank  off  the  contents.  As 
he  drained  the  last  drops  with  his  head  held 
backward,  his  eyes  met  mine  squarely  and 
his  fury  burned  within  him.  He  bit  sav- 
agely through  the  glass  tumbler  and  ground 
the  splintered  fragments  between  his  teeth, 
and  then  spat  them  from  his  bleeding  lips. 
Then  he  hurled  the  remainder  of  the  tum- 
bler to  the  deck  with  a  crash,  and  sat  there 
silently  glaring  like  some  fiend  from  hell. 
Finally  he  spoke. 

"It  is  now  nearly  nine  o'clock,"  he  said 
slowly.      "When  three  bells  strike  I  shall 


RICHART*  JUDKINS'   WOOING  117 

drop  all  three  of  you  overboard,  and  you 
shall  have  three  twelve  pound  shot — one 
apiece — along  with  you.  Lord  Dunmore  re- 
quests that  you  shall  not  be  hurt.  You  will 
see,  Mr.  Rose,"  he  went  on,  turning  to  his 
lieutenant,  "that  no  violence  is  done  these 
gentlemen.  Do  you  understand,  sir  ?  Sim- 
ply lower  them  carefully  over  the  side  with 
a  shot  fast  to  the  right  foot  of  each,  and  see 
that  their  hands  are  tied  to  prevent  them 
from  hurting  any  one.  You  may  take  them 
forward,  sergeant. 

We  were  on  our  way  forward  again  and 
just  on  the  point  of  entering  the  fore-hatch? 
when  the  sound  of  oars,  working  in  oar- 
locks with  a  man-of-war's  sweep,  feh1  on  our 
ears.  The  sergeant  stopped  and  looked 
over  the  vessel's  side. 


118  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"It's  the  Guvnor's  boat,"  said  one  of  the 
soldiers.  "'E's  comin'  to  pay  his  respects 
to  the  skipper,  an  'e'll  find  'im  in  a  fine 
state  for  argyment." 

"  'Pon  me  sowl,  it  is,"  said  the  sergeant. 

"Pete,  you  an'  Rooney,  here,  take  the 
folks  below  while  I  see  to  his  ludship." 

Before  we  reached  the  hatchway  the  boat 
was  alongside  and  an  officer  climbed  quickly 
on  deck,  where  he  was  met  by  the  sergeant. 

"The  Governor  sends  his  compliments  to 
Captain  Cahill,  and  wishes  him  to  send  the 
prisoners  he  took  to-day  to  the  frigate  for 
examination,"  said  the  officer,  and  as  he 
spoke  I  recognized  him  as  Captain  Foy's 
under-lieutenant  whom  I  had  met  several 
times  before  at  Harrison's  house. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  119 

I  called  to  him  before  anyone  could  stop 
me,  and  the  next  instant  we  were  shaking 
hands  before  the  astonished  soldiers. 

"You  have  come  in  good  time,  Mr. 
Jones,"  I  said,  "  and  for  Heaven's  sake  get  us 
clear  of  this  vessel  and  its  lunatic  skipper." 

He  laughed  heartily  as  the  sergeant  came 
up  and  saluted.  "This  way,  if  ye  plase," 
said  that  soldier,  and  he  led  him  aft. 

A  few  minutes  later  the  sergeant  came 
forward,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Jones  of  the 
Fowey,  frigate,  and  we  were  ushered  over 
the  side  just  as  the  lookout,  forward,  struck 
off  three  bells. 

u'Twas  a  narrer  escape,  me  son,"  whis- 
pered the  sergeant  to  Will  as  he  went  over 
the  side.  The  next  minute  we  were  on  our 
way  to  the  frigate. 


CHAPTER  VI 

"It's  all  very  well  for  your  lordship  to 
laugh,"  said  Will,  an  hour  later,  after  we 
had  been  served  with  an  excellent  meal, 
washed  down  by  delicious  wine,  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's cabin  table,  "  but  had  you  been  busy 
with  other  matters  to-night,  we  would  have 
been  comfortably  buoyed  in  the  mud  at  the 
bottom  of  the  river." 

"  He  is  an  uncommon  rascal,  that  Cahill," 
laughed  Dunmore,  "but,  my  dear  Byrd, 
you  should  not  take  arms  against  His  Maj- 
esty's Governor,  even  in  fun.  Ha!  ha!  It 
would  have  been  droll,  'pon  my  word,  ha! 
ha!  May  the  Lord  roast  me  if  it  would  not 

(120) 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  121 

have  been  a  joke  to  have  seen  you  tl  ree 
gentlemen  buoyed  in  this  most  muddy 
stream.  It  is  a  revelation,  Byrd,  a  revela- 
tion, sir,  from  Providence.  A  sign  of  the 
times  and  an  omen  for  you  to  take  advan- 
tage of  without  delay.  It  is  an  insight  into 
the  future  and  should  hurry  you  to  take  up 
arms  in  His  Majesty's  just  cause.  Think  of 
it,  if  it  had  not  been  for  his  Majesty,  the 
King  —  as  represented  by  myself  —  you 
would  have  been  at  the  bottom  of  the  river 
to-night  to  remain  there,  perhaps,  through 
all  eternity  ;  for  I  take  it  that  the  angel 
Gabriel  would  have  to  blow  a  mighty  blast 
to  lift  you  out  of  this  most  sticky  Virginia 
soil." 

"But  if  it  hadn't  been  for  His  Majesty, 


122  RICHARD  JUDKIXS'   WOOING 

the  King,  as  represented  by  that  truculent 
skipper  on  the  schooner  over  there,  we 
might  now  be  dining  in  the  charming  com- 
pany of  Miss  Judkins  and  Miss  Carter,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  mistress  of  Judkins 
Hah1,"  said  Barron,  smiling  at  Dun  more 
with  a  beaming  face. 

"And  have  lost  the  honor  of  dining  with 
his  excellency,  the  Governor,"  I  put  in  hur- 
riedly, for  I  thought  I  perceived  an  uncom- 
fortable look  gather  on-  his  lordship's  coun- 
tenance. The  two  officers  present,  Captains 
Foy  and  Graham,  also  began  to  look  a  trifle 
annoyed. 

"But  where  are  we,  anyhow,  Lord  Dun- 
rnore  ? "  asked  Will.  "  Your  excellency  has 
rescued  us,  true  enough,  and  made  the 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  123 

matter  all  the  better  by  adding  this  splendid 
dinner,  but  whereabouts  on  the  river  are 
we?" 

"As  near  as  I  can  judge,  we  are  about 
twenty  miles  above  Westover.  Hey  !  Cop- 
tain  Foy  ?  Isn't  that  about  the  reckoning  ? " 
replied  Dunmore.  "And  if  we  have  good 
luck  and  little  fighting,  we  shall  be  through 
our  business  in  this  part  of  the  river  and  on 
our  way  down  stream  before  this  time  to- 
morrow evening.  There  is  very  little  to  do 
after  all.  Graham,  here,  and  Fordyce  of 
the  Hound  had  some  little  difficulty 
yesterday  with  a  small  party  of  rebels,  but 
they  were  all  shot  or  dispersed  except  the 
leaders,  who  were  keel-hauled  by  Captain 
Fordyce.  He  and  Cahill  are  very  able  men 


124  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

in  their  line  of  work  and  their  vessels  are 
well  adapted  for  these  inland  waters.  But 
it  is  a  very  malodorous  business  and  the 
sooner  we  get  clear  of  these  unhealthy 
swamp  vapors,  and  get  a  sniff  of  salt  air, 
the  better.  I  hope,  Foy,  you  will  see  that 
plenty  of  sulphur  is  burned  aboard  to- 
night." 

"Can  we  be  landed  to-night?"  I  asked. 

"Yes,"  said  Will,  "can  we  get  ashore? 
They  will  expect  us  at  the  Hall  and  will  be 
much  troubled  if  we  don't  get  back  before 
bedtime." 

"I  don't  see  how  it  can  be  'done,  do  you 
Foy?"  said  Dunmore,  "We  had  an  exchange 
of  shots  with  the  shore,  as  you  may  have 
noticed  from  the  schooner,  just  before  com 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'    WOOING  125 

ing  to  anchor,  and  I  would  hardly  think  it 
wise  to  send  a  boat  in  there  at  this  time  of 
night.  You  wouldn't  care  to  land  there  this 
evening,  would  you,  Graham?" 

"No,  your  excellency,  it  would  hardly  be 
safe,  "  replied  that  officer. 

"Besides,"  continued  Dunmore,  "Fordyce 
stopped  at  Harrison's  to  take  him  and  his 
party  aboard  the  Hound,  and  from  For- 
dyce's  description  of  your  affair  on  the  beach 
with  CahiU's  men,  they  will  probably  be  sat- 
isfied that  you  are  in  safe  keeping  for  the 
night.  Harrison  was  in  a  hurry  to  get  to 
Norfolk,  as  he  expected  to  sail  for  England 
soon, — so  his  note  said— and  I  gave  Fordyce 
orders  to  end  his  patrol  there  aud  start  back 
immediately.  He  will  go  down  on  the  morn- 


1-6  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

ing  tide  and  meet  us  below  in  a  day  or  two. 
Cahill,  and  some  of  those  small  craft  astern 
of  us  can  finish  up  the  work  here  and  above 
us." 

"Then  we  shall  have  to  spend  the  night 
aboard? "  I  inquired. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  force  my  hospitality  upon 
you,  gentlemen,"  said  Dunmore,  ubut  I  see 
no  other  way  out  of  it.  Anyhow,  I  take  it 
for  granted  you  would  have  joined  us  to- 
morrow, in  the  interest  of  the  King,  so  the 
hardships  will  not  be  so  very  great.  How- 
ever, if  you  would  rather  go  back  aboard 
the  Black  Eagle  and  spend  the  evening  with 
Captain  Cahill,  you  may  do  so.  Shall  I  call 
away  the  boat? "  And  as  he  said  this  his 
eyes  twinkled  with  some  little  amusement, 


RICHARD   JUDKTNS'   WOOING  127 

"Give  yourself  no  more  trouble  on  my 
account,  your  excellency,"  said  Barron,  "I 
am,  as  you  know,  an  old  soldier  and  have  no 
relatives  to  speak  of.  I  find  myself  just  as 
much  at  home  in  a  strange  bed,  be  it  ever 
so  comfortable,  as  in  any  other." 

"Not  a  bad  idea,  Captain,"  answered 
Dunmore,  "not  a  bad  idea,  sir;  but  before 
we  think  of  turning  in,  Captain  Foy  and 
Graham  here  would  not  be  adverse  to  open- 
ing a  bottle  or  two  more  with  you.  Stew- 
ard !  You  may  clear  the  table  and  bring 
some  of  that  stuff  captured  yesterday.  It 
may  strike  you  as  strange,  gentlemen, "  he 
continued,  "but  that  beggar  who  lives  near 
Jamestown  keeps  most  remarkable  liquor. 
May  the  Lord  pickle  me,  if  it  isn't  equal  to 
any  I  have  ever  tasted  at  home." 


128  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"And  a  most  remarkable  man  he  was, 
too,"  put  in  Captain  Foy. 

"He  did  show  more  or  less  nerve  of  a 
peculiar  order,"  said  Graham. 

"  How  was  that  ? "  asked  Will. 

"Well,  you  see,"  said  Captain  Graham, 
"  we  went  ashore  on  the  island  to  recon- 
noitre, as  we  had  heard  of  the  large  gather- 
ing at  Williamsburg.  The  first  thing  that 
greeted  us  on  landing  was  a  couple  of  rifle 
shots.  These  appeared  to  come  from  the 
bushes  near  Jacquelin's  house,  and  one  of 
them  struck  poor  Billings  in  the  pit  of  the 
stomach  and  passed  through  him,  poor 
fellow.  We  finally  made  a  landing  a  little 
farther  up  stream,  where  there  was  more 
cover,  and  the  first  thing  we  encountered 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  129 

on  getting  ashore  was  a  motely  crowd  of 
farmers,  armed  and  ready  to  fight  us. 
There  was  one  fellow,  I  believe  they  called 
him  '  Bullet,'  who  is  a  fierce  rebel,  and 
another  mounted  on  a  powerful  bay  mare, 
who  rode  with  his  left  arm  in  a  sling  and  had 
a  strangely  attired  negro  servant  to  carry  a 
couple  of  rifles  for  him.  These  were  the 
only  dangerous  men  in  the  crowd,  for  the 
rest  had  no  organization  and  appeared  to 
obey  no  commander,  so  they  quickly  broke 
and  fled  at  the  first  fire.  Four  of  them 
remained,  however,  and  these  two  have 
just  described  were  the  ones  who  cut  their 
way  through  our  men  with  their  swords  and 
escaped.  The  other  two  were  captured,  for 
they  refused  either  to  run  or  cease  fighting. 


130  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

One  was  Jacquelin,  who  owns  the  house, 
and  the  other  a  man  named  Horn.  Fordyce 
was  coming  up  just  then  and  I  turned  them 
over  to  him.  He  tried  to  get  some  informa- 
tion about  Mr.  Henry's  mob  out  of  both  of 
them.  Jacquelin  had  his  fingers  punched 
with  a  belt  punch  without  so  much  as  say- 
ing a  word,  and  the  fellow,  Horn,  was 
seated  on  a  hot  stove  until  the  breeches  and 
skin  were  burnt  off  his  buttocks,  but  all  he 
did  during  that  time  was  to  curse  His 
Majesty  most  heartily.  Fordyce  started  to 
keel-haul  him,  and  had  the  line  made  fast 
to  his  hands  passed  under  the  schooner's 
bottom,  but  somehow  the  line  fouled  just 
as  he  was  drawn  under  the  bilge,  and  by 
the  time  they  cleared  it  and  pulled  him 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  131 

aboard  again  he  was  as  dead  as  a  mackerel. 
After  Jacquelin  had  his  turn,  he  offered  to 
lead  us  to  Williamsburg,  or  anywhere  else 
we  wished  to  go,  and  the  beggar  told  a  yarn 
about  some  good  wine  in  his  cellar  the  men 
had  failed  to  find.  We  stopped  at  his  house 
again,  and  four  of  us  went  with  him  to  find 
the  stuff.  He  did  have  a  door  we  had  over- 
looked and  he  showed  it  to  us.  The  cellar 
was  full  of  this  stuff  you  see  before  you,  and 
while  we  stood  at  the  entrance  admiring  the 
flasks  the  rascal  shoved  all  four  suddenly 
inside  the  door  and  banged  it  to  and  locked  it. 
Then  he  started  across  the  island  like  a  scared 
rabbit.  That's  the  last  anyone  saw  of  him, 
for,  as  usual  in  such  cases,  by  the  time  the 
men  heard  us  and  saw  what  bad  happened, 


132  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

he  was  too  far  off  to  hit  and  there  wasn't  a 
man  there  who  shot  within  a  fathom  of 
him." 

"That  must  have  been  a  very  interesting 
affair,"  said  Will,  somewhat  coldly,  "bat 
if  you  are  through  I  would  like  to  go  to  bed. 
I  am  a  little  fatigued  from  the  day's  excite- 
ment. No  thanks  !  I  do  not  care  for  any 
more  wine.  I  hope  your  excellency  will 
excuse  me."  And  he  rose  from  his  chair. 

Lord  Dunmore  looked  sharply  at  Byrd, 
and  appeared  a  trifle  annoyed,  but  he  said 
nothing. 

It  was  easy  to  see  that  Will's  sentiments 
were  not  exactly  in  accord  with  our  hosts, 
and  that  a  strained  relationship  would  exist 
between  them  if  something  were  not  done 


BICHABD   JUDKINS'   WOOIXO  133 

quickly.  It  was  evident  that  Lord  Dunmore 
expected  us  to  accompany  him  as  loyal  sub- 
jects on  the  morrow,  and  I  knew  it  would 
need  some  keen  acting  on  our  part  to  enable 
us  to  avoid  giving  up  our  residence  at  the 
Hall  and  becoming  refugees  for  an  indefinite 
period.  My  heart  was  anything  but  light 
when  I  thought  of  Harrison,  —  with  the 
ruffian  Fordyce  to  back  him, — having  things 
his  own  way  down  the  river.  But  as  I  only 
thought  of  Berk  as  a  misguided  gentleman, 
a  little  over-zealous  in  his  duty  to  the  King, 
the  only  trouble  I  anticipated  was  some  ob- 
stacle I  felt  he  would  place  in  our  way  when 
he  found  we  wished  to  remain  at  home.  At 
all  events,  I  knew  I  must  not  antagonize 
Dunmore,  or  he  would  fail  to  put  us  ashore 


134  RICHARD  JUDKINS1   WOOING 

the  next  day  as  we  hoped  he  would.  There- 
fore I  reached  for  poor  Jacquehn's  wine  and 
drank  his  excellency's  health,  and  Barron 
needed  no  urging  to  follow  my  example. 

Will  remained  standing  until  I  explained 
that  he  was  suffering  from  the  shock  of  the 
discharge  from  Cahill's  pivot-gun,  where- 
upon the  Governor  was  much  amused  and 
laughed  immoderately  as  I  described  how 
the  ball  covered  us  with  sand  and  gravel. 
Then  we  finished  the  bottle,  and  after  bid- 
ding his  excellency  good  night,  the  steward 
ushered  us  into  the  officers'  cabin  where  a 
state-room  had  been  made  ready  for  us. 

As  soon  as  we  were  left  alone,  Will  burst 
forth  into  a  perfect  torrent  of  abuse  against 
Dunmore  and  his  underlings.  Barron  and  I 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  135 

tried  to  stop  him  lest  some  one  should  hear 
the  noise,  but  it  was  only  after  he  had  called 
them  every  villianous  name  he  could  think 
of  that  he  at  last  consented  to  keep  quiet. 
As  for  myself,  I  have  said  before  that  the 
Judkins  family  were  not  of  a  nervous  or  ex- 
citable disposition,  and  are  not  carried  away 
by  wild  and  insane  thoughts  of  mistaken 
patriotism,  but  I  had  decided  that  evening 
that  the  King  would  soon  have  another 
enemy  of  my  acquaintance.  By  the  present 
state  of  the  feelings  of  both  Barren  and 
Byrd,  I  thought  it  highly  probable  that  there 
would  be  several  more. 

Will  finally  turned  in  and  I  did  likewise, 
for  we  were  very  tired.  Barron  sat  a  long 
time  apparently  lost  in  thought,  holding  his 


138  HICHAM)  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

half-removed  boot  in  his  hands.     Then  he 
spoke. 

"Poor  Horn,"  he  muttered,  "I  owed  him 
for  two  gallons  of  gin."  And  then  he  un- 
dressed and  turned  in  without  another  word. 


CHAPTER  VII 

The  next  morning  the  frigate  was  under 
way  before  we  were  up,  but  as  the  water 
appeared  shoal  at  the  end  of  the  reach,  she 
was  anchored  to  await  high  tide,  for  the 
river  is  very  narrow  here  and  dangerous  for 
a  large  vessel  to  turn  about  in.  "When  we 
arose  and  came  on  deck  a  little  later,  we  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  our  friends,  or  rather 
enemies,  of  yesterday,  pass  close  under  the 
frigate's  stern;  and  as  they  did  so  Barron 
leaned  over  the  rail  and  saluted  Captain 
Cahill  very  pleasantly  and  wished  him  a 
safe  and  happy  voyage. 

We  stood  on  the  Fowey's  high  poop  and 

(137) 


138  RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

watched  the  swift  little  schooner  pass  up  the 
river  and  disappear  around  the  bend  above 
us.  Soon  afterwards  we  heard  the  rattle  of 
musket  firing,  followed  by  the  heavy,  deep 
boom  of  her  pivot-gun.  After  the  rever- 
berating echoes  died  away  along  the  wooded 
shores,  all  was  silent.  The  sun  broke  through 
the  river  mist  and  shone  warmly  on  the 
muddy  water,  and  the  day  promised  to  be 
bright  and  quiet.  The  two  small  craft  that 
followed  the  schooner  now  took  in  their  sails 
and  put  out  their  oars,  and  their  niggers 
pulled  to  a  lusty  chorus. 

Dunrnore  was  up  early.  He  was  evidently 
annoyed  at  having  to  spend  so  much  time  on 
the  river,  for  he  came  on  deck  in  quite  bad 
humor.  He  greeted  us  rather  stiffly,  and 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  139 

then  turned  to  Captain  Graham  who  had 
also  just  made  his  appearance. 

"  What  is  that  firing  about  ?"  demanded 
the  Governor  in  no  uncertain  tone. 

"I  don't  know,  your  excellency,"  replied 
Graham. 

"Captain  Graham,"  said  the  Governor, 
"  you  will  please  tell  me  just  what  you  know, 
sir,  quickly.  It  won't  take  a  minute,  sir,  or 
else  write  it  down  on  a  slip  of  paper.  Send 
Mr.  Johnson  to  me,  sir  !" 

The  Captain  went  forward  on  the  poop, 
and  a  moment  afterward  a  young  officer  ap- 
peared coming  aft.  He  saluted  the  Governor 
and  stood  attention. 

"Mr.  Johnson,  it  is  your  watch  on  deck, 
sir.  What  was  that  going  about  on  board 
the  Black  Eagle  ?  "  inquired  Dunmore. 


140  RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

"I  d-d-do  not  k-k-know, —  your  " — 

"  Call  the  Corporal  of  the  guard,  sir.  Don't 
stand  there  and  stammer  at  me,  sir,"  cried 
the  Governor,  interrupting  him  and  waxing 
furious. 

The  poor  lieutenant  retreated  to  the  break 
of  the  poop,  closely  followed  by  his  master, 
but  he  was  too  excited  to  speak  plainly. 

"  Corp'ral  g-g-g'ard!  Corp'ral  g-g-gard!" 
he  cried  weakly,  but  there  was  no  response 
from  the  main  deck. 

"What  are  you  doing,  sir!"  thundered 
Dunmore  as  he  came  up  behind  him. 

"Trying  t  t-to  c-c-call  the  Corporal  of  the 
g-g-g'ard,  your"- 

"  For  God's  sake,  Mr.  Johnson  call  some- 
body. Call  somebody,  sir,  quick,"  cried  his 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  141 

lordship,  walking  to  and  fro  across  the  deck 
and  wringing  his  hands.  Then,  as  he  came 
to  where  the  Lieutenant  stood,  he  could 
stand  it  no  longer  and  waxed  into  a  frenzy. 

"  Do  something!  Call  somebody!  Do  some- 
thing for  God's  sake!  Do  something  Mr. 
Johnson,  or  get  off  this  ship,'1  he  cried.  And 
the  young  officer,  showing  him  self  to  be 
a  man  more  fitted  for  action  than  words, 
dashed  down  the  companion  ladder  and 
dragged  the  corporal  he  wished  for  up  again 
by  the  collar  of  his  coat. 

Then,  after  much  swearing  and  question- 
ing, the  Governor  heard  that  Captain  Cahill 
had  fired  upon  a  small  hut,  just  visible  be- 
yond the  bend  of  the  river.  I  tell  these 
events  that  happened  on  board  the  Foivey, 


142  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

frigate,  to  give  an  idea  of  the  Governor's 
temper,  and  also  because  every  incident  of 
that  time  stands  out  clearly  before  me.  Mr. 
Jones,  the  young  officer  who  took  us  off  the 
Black  Eagle  was  very  pleasant  to  us,  and 
warned  us  against  the  tempers  of  Captain 
Foy  and  the  Governor,  after  which  he  kept 
out  of  our  way,  and  we  saw  him  no  more  to 
speak  to  while  we  were  aboard  the  ship.  He 
was  a  promising  young  man  and  I  hoped  to 
have  him  help  us  get  ashore,  but  he  evi- 
dently thought  it  best  tfot  to  be  intimate 
with  neutrals. 

After  breakfast  his  lordship  was  in  better 
spirits,  and  these  were  more  improved  later 
in  the  morning  upon  the  arrival  of  a  small 
boat  which  carried  Mr.  Eobinson,  a  noted 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  143 

tory,  and  several  of  his  family  to  the  frigate. 
Mrs.  Robinson  was  a  woman  of  fine  pres- 
ence, and  her  daughter  might  have  been 
said  to  have  been  beautiful,  judging  from 
the  standard  of  those  days,  but  she  was  no 
longer  young  and  her  lack  of  success  in  the 
matrimonial  field  appeared  to  have  soured 
her  temper.  These  people  were  made  com- 
fortable in  the  officer's  cabin  and  were  very 
outspoken  in  their  opinions  regarding  Mr. 
Patrick  Henry. 

When  the  tide  turned  in  the  afternoon  and 
began  to  run  a  strong  ebb,  the  frigate  was 
gotten  under  way,  and,  with  her  working 
canvas  set,  headed  down  stream.  The  wind 
was  so  light  that,  in  spite  of  the  most  care- 
ful steering,  she  was  run  on  a  mud  bank 


144  RICHARD   JUDKINS1   WOOING 

before  going  much  over  a  mile.  Captain 
Foy,  however,  was  equal  to  the  occasion. 
He  soon  had  a  kedge  out  and  before  the  fall- 
ing tide  left  her  fast  he  warped  the  ship  back 
again  into  the  channel.  Bad  luck  did  not 
desert  us  here,  for  the  frigate  had  hardly 
gathered  way  again  before  she  piled  heavily 
upon  a  sand  bar  and  all  attempts  to  pull  her 
off  proved  useless.  It  was  then  decided  to 
await  the  next  high  water. 

The  day  passed  stupidly  enough  in  spite 
of  the  presence  of  Miss  Robinson  on  board. 
We  were  all  anxious  to  get  down  river  and 
Lord  Dunmore  was  now  in  such  a  bad 
humor  that  he  refused  flatly,  and  with  some 
energy,  our  request  to  have  a  small  boat  put 
us  ashore,  so  we  could  walk  the  twenty  miles 
or  more  across  country  to  Judkins'  Hall. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  145 

But  we  were  not  the  only  ones  to  suffer 
from  his  lordship's  temper.  Mr.  Johnson, 
the  young  navigating  lieutenant,  came  in 
for  his  share  also. 

He  was  standing  on  the  edge,  or  break,  of 
the  poop,  after  the  frigate  had  run  hard  and 
fast  aground,  and  was  much  upset  in  his 
mind,  although  the  accident  was  un- 
avoidable. 

A  little  imp  of  a  powder-monkey  boy 
thought  to  take  advantage  of  a  moment 
when  his  back  was  turned,  to  imitate  his 
defect  in  speech  and  make  faces  at  him  for 
the  benefit  of  the  ship's  company.  The 
officer,  however,  turned  and  caught  him  in 
the  act. 

"Damn  you,   sir!      Come   to  the  m-m- 


146  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

mast ! "  he  bawled,  and  Lord  Dunmore, 
hearing  the  noise,  came  forward  to  see 
what  was  the  matter,  and  take  a  hand  in 
the  disturbance  if  occasion  demanded  it. 

"  What  has  he  done  ? "  asked  the  Gov- 
ernor, as  the  boy  came  aft  crying  with  fear. 

"Nothin',"  snuffled  the  little  rascal, 
speaking  before  anyone  could  stop  him. 
"'E  just  sez,  'Dam  you,  sir,  come  to  the 
mast,'  an'  I  comes." 

"  Did  you  swea.r  at  this  boy  for  nothing  ? " 
demanded  the  Governor. 

"No,  your  excellency,"  said  Mr.  Johnson. 
"I  said  d-d-damn  y-y-you,  sir,  c-c-come 
here,  because  he"- 

"That  will  do  ! "  thundered  the  Governor. 
"  Go  to  your  quarters  in  arrest,  sir.  I  won't 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  147 

have  you  swearing  at  my  men  for  nothing. 
Go,  sir ! "    And  after  this  affair  we  gave  his 
excellency  a  wide  berth  for  the  rest  of  the 
day. 
The    next    morning   the  tide  floated  us 

clear,  and  we  got  under  way  just  as  the 
Black  Eagle  came  around  the  bend  above 
us.  She  soon  caught  up  with  the  frigate 
and  we  learned  that  she  had  a  dozen  or 
more  prominent  tories  aboard  who  wished 
to  take  refuge  with  the  royal  Governor. 

We  stopped  twice  on  the  way  down  the 
river,  once  to  take  aboard  a  tory  named 
Thornton,  who  lived  on  a  large  plantation 
on  the  south  side,  and  once  we  stayed  an 
hour  or  more  on  a  mud  flat. 

It  was  nearly  sundown  before  the  white 


148  RICHARD   JUbKINS'   WOOING 

pillars  of  Judkins  Hall  showed  through  the 
fringe  of  willows  on  the  river  bank.  The 
red  light  of  the  setting  sun  flooded  the 
south  portico  and  a  pane  of  glass  in  a  win- 
dow, catching  a  ray  at  an  angle,  burned 
like  a  bright  eye  for  an  instant  as  we  drifted 
past. 

Dunmore  reluctantly  consented  to  send  us 
ashore  in  a  boat  with  Mr.  Johnson  and  a 
guard  of  soldiers  to  see  if  anyone  remained 
at  the  Hall,  and  if  so,  to  help  carry  what 
luggage  there  was  to  be  sent  aboard  the 
frigate.  My  slaves  could  follow  us  in  the 
small  craft.  As  the  boat  drew  near  the 
beach,  where  only  a  few  days  before  Bull- 
beggor  had  won  his  strange  victory  over 
Harrison,  we  looked  for  some  signs  of  wel- 


KICHAKD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  149 

come  from  our  people.  Not  a  leaf  stirred  in 
the  calm  of  the  bend,  and  not  a  sound  from 
the  shore  broke  the  ominous  stillness  of  that 
warm,  clear  evening.  None  of  us  spoke 
and  even  Barren's  face  appeared  grave  with 
some  thought  of  impending  evil.  The  sun 
shone  on  the  sweating  faces  of  the  rowers, 
and  the  regular  clank  of  their  oars  in  the 
row-locks  beat  time  to  my  heart  throbs  as  I 
waited  to  learn  what  was  wrong. 

When  the  boat's  keel  struck  the  sand,  we 
sprang  quickly  ashore  and  proceeded  rapidly 
by  the  river  path  toward  the  Hall.  On  en- 
tering the  fringe  of  bushes  and  undergrowth 
on  the  river  bank  I  thought  I  heard  a 
strange  noise  close  by  me  to  the  right.  We 
stopped  a  moment  and  listened,  but  the  four 


150  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

men  and  Mr.  Johnson,  who  were  following 
close  behind  us,  came  up,  and  we  started  on 
again  toward  the  Hall. 

All  of  a  sudden  I  heard  a  faint  cry. 

"Marse  Dick!"  it  said  feebly,  and  the 
voice  came  from  the  direction  I  had  first 
heard  the  noise.  Barron,  Byrd  and  myself 
heard  the  cry  simultaneously,  and  we  in- 
stantly started  toward  the  spot  from  whence 
it  came.  The  next  minute  we  broke 
through  a  thicket  of  blackberry  bushes, 
and  found  a  small  cleared  spot  in  the  midst 
of  the  grass  and  briars. 

There,  lying  upon  his  back,  with  his  left 
hand  held  over  a  nasty  cut  in  his  abdomen, 
was  my  boy,  Sam.  The  poor  fellow  saw 
me  and  I  caught  his  glad  look  of  recogni- 


KICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  151 

tion,  but  his  glance  wandered  back  of  me 
to  Mr.  Johnson  and  his  men,  and  his  look 
turned  to  one  of  savage  fury.  He  started 
to  rise,  but  I  quickly  held  him  in  my  arms 
while  the  rest  crowded  around  us. 

' '  What's  happened  ? "  I  gasped .  ( '  Where 
is  mother  and  Mary — and  Miss  Carter  ? " 

"Miss  Mary,  she  gone  wid  Marse  Berk — 
all  alone — old  missus  and  Miss  Rose  gone 
away,  too,"  said  the  poor  fellow,  with  great 
difficulty. 

I  looked  at  Will  and  saw  him  turn  ashy 
pale  and  his  jaws  set  until  the  bands  of 
muscle  in  his  lean  face  seemed  about  to 
break  with  the  strain. 

"What  rascal  do  you  suppose  did  this?" 
asked  Mr.  Johnson,  coming  up  closer  and 


152  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

noticing  the  look  on  Will's  face.  But  no 
one  answered. 

"  Who  gave  you  that  cut,  Sam  ? "  I  asked, 
bending  over  him  and  gently  removing  his 
hand  from  the  gash.  "  Get  some  water, 
quick  ! "  I  continued  to  the  men,  but  Barron 
had  already  started  for  the  boat,  where  he 
found  a  bailer,  and  returned  in  a  moment 
with  it  full  of  water.  In  a  few  moments 
Sam  felt  better,  and  I  immediately  set  to? 
work  to  dress  his  wound.  i '  Who  cut  you  ? ' 
I  asked  again,  for  I  saw  he  hesitated  about 
telling  me.  I  soon  had  a  bandage  in  place, 
and  then  1  repeated  the  question. 

"Marse  Berk,"  he  finally  whispered,  and 
as  he  did  so  Will  leaned  over  him  to  catch 
the  words.  "He  an'  that  Captain  were 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  153 

here — Marse  Berk — he  wanted  Miss  Mary  to 
go  off  alone  with  him  on  the  schooner — an' 
he  took  her — she  wanted  to  wait  for  old 
missus  an'  she  cried — I  came— so  he  killed 
me." 

"But  mother  and  Miss  Carter,  Sam, 
quick;  where  are  they  ?"  I  asked,  frantically. 

"Dunno,  Marse  Dick.  I'se  been  here 
sence  yesterday — I  ain't  seen  no  one — they 
all  must  be  gone  somewheres,  too." 

"  Carry  him  to  the  Hall,"  I  said  to  the 
soldiers,  and  then  Will  and  I  started  on  a 
run  towards  the  house.  On  reaching  the 
front  door  we  found  it  shut  fast,  but  Will 
burst  the  fastening  of  a  window  on  the 
verandah  and  sprang  into  the  dining  room, 
and  I  followed  at  his  heels.  I  bawled  out 


154  EICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

my  mother's  name,  and  Will  cried  out  for 
my  sister,  but  our  voices  echoed  through  an 
empty  house.  There  was  not  even  a  slave 
there. 

We  quickly  went  through  the  rooms  up- 
stairs, and  then  through  the  pantries  and 
kitchens  in  the  rear,  without  finding  a  single 
house  servant.  Then  we  started  for  the 
slave  quarters  to  see  if  anyone  had  remained 
there,  but  not  even  a  single  pickaninny  was 
in  sight.  Everywhere  there  were  traces 
of  hurried  preparations  for  departure. 
Clothes  were  scattered  about  the  floors,  and 
in  the  servants'  dining  room  the  evening 
meal  lay  untouched  upon  the  table.  We 
went  outside  and  looked  about  the  court, 
and  then  went  to  the  stables.  We  had  only 


RICHAKD  JUDKINS'    WOOING  155 

been  through  the  empty  stalls  on  the  lower 
floor,  when  we  saw  two  of  my  niggers  com- 
ing on  a  run  through  the  field  to  the  north- 
ward. They  had  seen  us  and  had  come 
from  hiding  places,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
they  were  with  us  and  seizing  our  hands, 
thanking  us  for  coming  back  again.  Then 
Mr.  Johnson  came  up  with  his  men,  carry- 
ing Sam  on  a  litter  made  of  their  crossed 
muskets,  and  Barron  showed  them  the  way 
to  a  couch  in  the  slave  quarters. 

My  two  field  hands,  who  were  telling  me 
what  had  happened,  were  ready  to  run  at 
the  sight  of  the  soldiers,  but  I  bade  them  be 
still  and  tell  their  story. 

They  told  how  the  schooner,  Hound,  had 
anchored  just  off  Harrison's  plantation,  the 


156  RICHABD   JU1>KINS'    WOOING 

evening  we  were  captured  by  Captain  Cahill, 
and  how  Berkley  Harrison  had  come  over  to 
the  Hall  with  Captain  Fordyce  and  a  file  of 
soldiers.  Then  all  hands  had  gotten  drunk, 
in  spite  of  my  mothers'  presence,  and  Har- 
rison had  insisted  on  my  family  and  Miss 
Carter  accompanying  him  to  Norfolk  on  the 
vessel.  My  mother  had  remonstrated  at  this 
high  handed  business,  but  Harrison  stormed 
and  threatened,  and  vowed  he  could  not  keep 
the  soldiers  from  looting  and  burning  the 
Hall  if  they  were  not  all  on  board  and  ready 
to  sail  within  an  hour.  My  sister  took  him 
outside  to  try  and  get  him  into  a  more 
reasonable  mood,  and  that  was  the  last  any- 
one on  the  plantation,  except  Sam,  saw  of 
her. 


BICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  157 

After  waiting  half  an  hour,  my  mother 
and  Miss  Carter  became  alarmed  at  her  ab- 
sence, and  also  at  the  actions  of  the  soldiers, 
who  began  to  fire  their  muskets  at  random. 
Upon  looking  for  their  Captain,  they  found 
him  sitting  on  the  verandah  with  a  bottle  of 
spirits  on  a  table  before  him  and  much  the 
worse  for  what  he  had  already  drank.  He 
informed  my  mother  roughly  that  Harrison 
and  my  sister  had  embarked  aboard  the 
Hound,  which  would  sail  within  the  hour.  He 
then  rose  from  the  table  and  insulted  Miss 
Carter,  after  which  he  staggered  down  to 
the  shore  and  was  carried  aboard  his  vessel, 
leaving  the  Hall  at  the  mercy  of  his  men. 
These  rascals  broke  into  the  women's  side  of 
the  slave  quarters  and  such  a  scene  of  riot 


158  KICHAKD   JUDKISS'    WOOING- 

followed  that  my  poor  mother  and  Miss  Rose 
fled  across  the  fields  for  their  lives.  They 
reached  Harrison's  place  and  had  the  fright- 
ened slaves,  who  were  preparing  to  follow 
their  master,  harness  a  horse  for  them. 
Then  they  drove  with  all  speed  for  Pendle- 
ton's  Inn  at  the  cross-roads  several  miles  to 
the  eastward.  Here  they  were  made  com- 
fortable and  were  now  awaiting  news  of 
our  whereabouts.  As  the  men  finished  their 
story,  Barron  reappeared  with  the  Lieuten- 
ant, and  I  repeated  some  of  the  details. 
Then  I  turned  to  the  officer. 

"You  may  give  the  Governor  my  compli- 
ments," I  said,  in  a  dry,  rasping  tone  that 
seemed  to  stick  in  my  throat,  "and  tell  him 
that  I  am  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  accompany 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  159 

him  to  Norfolk  this  evening.  I  shall,  how- 
ever, hope  to  meet  him  and  his  party  quite 
soon,  and  will  make  all  haste  after  I  see 
affairs  attended  to  here.  Mr.  Byrd,  and, 
perhaps,  Mr.  Barron,  will  go  with  you,"  and 
I  gave  Will  a  look  that  made  him  nod  assent. 

"I  am  v-very  s-s-sorry,  sir,"  stammered 
Mr.  Johnson,  "but  the  Governor's  orders 
were  positive.  They  were  that  all  of  you 
should  return  with  me  to  the  Fowey" 

"  Indeed  ? "  asked  Will,  blandly. 

"And  of  course  you  will  carry  out  the 
Governor's  orders  ?  "  asked  Barron,  smiling 
pleasantly. 

"At  any  cost,  sir,"  replied  Mr.  Johnson. 

"So  you  say,"  remarked  Barron,  still  smil- 
ing. 


160  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"  So  I'll  do,1'  replied  Mr.  Johnson  coloring 
a  little  at  Barren's  remark,  "If  you  doubt 
me,  sir,  try  me,"  and  he  looked  about  him 
for  his  men  who  now  came  straggling  up. 

"No  offence,  sir,"  put  in  Barron,  quickly. 
"I  merely  repeated  a  remark  said  to  have 
been  made  quite  often  in  the  society  at  court 
— a  remark  expressing  doubt  in  the  mind  of 
the  person  making  it,  without  reflecting  in 
any  manner  upon  the  sincerity  of  the  person 
telling  of  the  supposed  event." 

"At  any  rate,  you  certainly  will  allow  us 
time  to  collect  my  people  and  attend  to  my 
scattered  property.  Also,  you  will  allow  us 
to  make  what  neccessary  changes  in  our 
personal  attire  we  see  fit?"  I  asked. 

"Certainly,  sir,"  replied  the  officer,   u  the 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  161 

frigate  will  anchor  for  the  night  in  the  broad 
reach  a  few  miles  below  the  bend,  and  you 
shall  have  plenty  of  time,  not  only  to  pack 
your  effects,  but  to  send  for  whatever  rela- 
tives you  wish  to  accompany  you.  The  men, 
meanwhile,  can  collect  your  slaves  and  send 
them  on  ahead  of  us." 

"  We  shall  make  our  preparations,"  I 
answered  shortly,  and  then  I  led  the  way 
into  the  Hall. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

My  first  care  was  for  my  boy  Sam,  and 
after  he  had  been  properly  cared  for,  he  was 
carried  aboard  the  small  boat  and  made  com- 
fortable. 

While  we  were  changing  our  clothes,  Will 
and  I  had  a  chance  to  discuss  matters  pri- 
vately and  decide  what  had  best  be  done. 

Knowing  my  sister's  fondness  for  Berkley 
Harrison,  I  conceived  the  idea  very  readily 
that  she  had  consented  to  go  with  him  and 
marry  him  at  the  first  convenient  opportu- 
nity. Will  declared  that  he  would  soon 
hear  this  consent  expressed  from  her  own 
lips,  and  that  he  would  feel  more  relieved 

(162) 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  163 

after  hearing  it.  God  alone  knows  what  the 
poor  fellow's  thoughts  were,  and  what  hope 
still  lingered  within  his  breast.  As  for  my- 
self, my  duty  appeared  now  to  lay  first  with 
my  poor  mother — and  Miss  Carter.  My  sis- 
ter was  off  with  the  man  she  apparently 
loved,  and  nothing  worse  could  happen  to 
her  than  what  had  already  occurred.  I  be- 
lieved Harrison  to  be  a  gentleman  and  hon- 
orable in  his  dealings,  although  I  did  not 
agree  with  him  in  his  political  ideas  and 
views. 

Barron  decided,  positively,  to  accompany 
me  and  openly  hinted  that  Williamsburg 
was  the  place  he  hoped  to  reach  as  soon  as 
he  helped  me  straighten  out  matters  at  the 
Hall. 


164  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"I  will  join  you  there  also,  as  soon  as  1 
find  my  services  are  not  needed  at  Norfolk," 
said  Will. 

"Then  we  will  leave  you  here  with  Mr. 
Johnson,"  I  said.  "As  soon  as  he  gets  tired 
of  waiting  for  Barren  and  myself,  you  can 
go  with  him  and  join  Dunmore,  and  meet 
us  later  with  the  forces  under  Colonel 
Henry." 

While  we  were  discussing  our  affairs,  we 
were  changing  our  shooting  clothes  for  more 
suitable  garments,  and  we  were  quite  alone. 

I  took  two  silver  mounted,  Paris  made 
pistols  from  a  case,  and  concealed  them 
carefully  by  sticking  them  in  my  belt  under 
my  outer  coat.  I  may  say  here  that  these 
weapons  were  remarkable  for  their  fine  fin- 


KICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  166 

ish,  and  were  the  same  I  had  used  on  one  or 
two  well  known  occasions  before.  They 
were  the  ones  from  which  I  had  fired  six 
bullets  in  succession,  one  day,  upon  the  edge 
of  a  knife  blade  set  twenty  paces  distant, 
and  they  could  be  relied  upon.  They  had 
the  advantage  over  most,  for  they  exploded 
almost  instantly  from  the  flash  of  the  flint. 

After  seeing  to  these,  Barren  and  I  then 
buckled  on  our  swords;  mine  a  fragile  rapier 
which  had  formerly  been  part  of  the  dress 
of  a  man  of  fashion,  and  his  a  more  service- 
able weapon,  but  still  very  light  for  field  use. 

;'  You  will  certainly  allow  me  the  privilege 
of  escorting  my  own  mother,"  I  said  to  the 
Lieutenant,  when  we  had  finished  our  prep- 
arations and  had  come  down  stairs, 


166  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"  Where  is  she  ? "  he  asked. 

"At  Pendleton's  Inn,  a  few  miles  back  in 
the  country,"  I  answered.  "But,  as  I  un- 
derstand we  are  not  exactly  prisoners,  you 
will  have  no  objection  to  my  going  to  her, 
and  telling  her  of  the  arrival  of  his  excel- 
lency, the  Governor." 

"  Not  only  that,  but  you  may  take  two 
men  with  you.  There  may  be  some  of  Mr. 
Henry's  bush-fighters  who  might  not  be  to 
your  way  of  thinking,  and  who  might  dis- 
pute the  way  with  you.  Carry  your  sword 
if  you  wish.  Is  Captain  Barren  to  accom- 
pany you  ?  He  may  do  so  if  you  wish  it, 
for,  of  course,  I  have  your  word  that  you 
will  not  stay  any  longer  than  necessary  or  go 
anywhere  my  men  cannot  go  also  without 


EICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  167 

making  trouble."  Saying  this  he  beckoned 
two  stout  soldiers  aside  and  gave  them  some 
orders  I  did  not  quite  hear. 

I  said  nothing  in  reply  to  his  remark  about 
not  staying,  or  leading  his  men  into  hostili- 
ties, for  I  wished  to  gain  time,  and  I  led  the 
way  quickly  to  the  stables  where  saddles  and 
bridles  were  procured. 

The  horses  were  at  large,  but  in  sight, 
grazing  quietly  in  the  pasture  to  the  east- 
ward of  the  quarters.  My  two  field  hands 
soon  had  four  of  them  ready.  Giving  a  nod 
to  Barron,  I  leaped  into  the  saddle,  and  he 
instantly  followed  my  example.  The  sol- 
diers started  to  mount  in  a  more  leisurely 
manner. 

"Mr.  Johnson,"  I  said,  turning  quickly, 


168  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"I  have  not  given  my  word  as  to  not  leav- 
ing you  and  your  men.  Mark  that,  sir. 
Therefore  I  bid  you  farewell." 

The  next  instant  I  was  loping  gracefully 
down  the  carriage  drive  with  that  peculiar 
ease  which  you  may  have,  perhaps,  noticed 
as  belonging  to  a  Virginia  country  gentle- 
man. 

Barren's  knee  was  rubbing  against  mine 
with  each  rise  and  fall,  and  the  old  soldier 
was  smiling  happily  at  the  scenery  lit  up  by 
the  last  rays  of  the  setting  sun. 

I  half  expected  to  hear  a  warning  bullet, 
and  turned  my  head  with  my  chin  to  my 
shoulder  to  see  what  was  taking  place 
behind. 

Mr.  Johnson  waved  his  sword  nervously 


RICHAED  JUDKINS'   WOOING  169 

and  shouted  out  something  I  could  not 
understand,  and  then  the  two  soldiers  came 
galloping  after  us. 

"We  better  avoid  their  company,  for 
they  are  rough  looking  men,"  said  Barron. 
"A  soldier  is  good  enough  when  properly 
commanded,  but  most  unpleasant  when  in 
command.  As  for  me,  I  intend  to  command 
some  as  soon  as  I  can  join  the  Major  and 
the  rest  at  Williamsburg." 

"We  must  shake  clear  of  these  men 
before  we  get  to  the  Inn,"  I  said.  "It 
would  never  do  to  have  a  dispute  there 
before  the  ladies,  although  the  advantage 
would  lie  with  us.  Suppose  we  slack  up  at 
the  turn  a  mile  above  here  and  tell  these 
fellows  to  go  back.  Perhaps  Will  will  find 


170  KICHARD.JUDKINS'   WOOING 

himself  kept  pretty  close  when  Dunmore 
knows  we  are  not  exactly  in  sympathy  with 
the  king." 

"He  will  have  tact  enough  to  keep  out 
of  limbo,  but  I  reckon  Dunmore  will  try  to 
make  him  take  up  arms  against  us,"  said 
Barron.  "You  spoke  of  a  bend  in  the 
road  ;  is  that  it  ahead  there  ? " 

"Yes,  but  suppose  these  fools  show 
fight?"  I  asked. 

"That  little  side  ornament  of  yours  will 
do  little  good  in  that  case,  but  I  reckon  I 
can  hold  them  both  in  play.  There  was  a 
time,  if  I  remember  rightly,  when  I  knew 
something  about  the  use  of  a  sword— even 
a  light  one  like  this  I  have  with  me.  When 
Braddock  was  down  in  the  swamps  I  was  a 


KICHAKD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  171 

fair  hand  at  pinning  frogs.  I  reckon  there 
isn't  anything  much  better  to  eat  than  the 
reptile's  legs,  but  I  tired  of  them  after  the 
boys  got  me  to  eat  the  half  raw  legs  of  a 
skunk,  by  mistake,  in  the  way  of  a  joke. 
Most  uncommon  joke  it  was,  but  I  certainly 
am  right  when  I  say  I  can  taste  those  legs 
yet.  Whoa!  Steady,  boys  ?"  And  we 
slowed  our  horses  down  to  a  walk. 

The  soldiers  came  galloping  up,  and  the 
one  who  appeared  to  be  a  corporal,  by  the 
cheverons  on  the  sleeves  of  his  tunic,  drew 
alongside  of  me  and  saluted. 

"Sorry,  sir,  but  orders  are  to  accompany 
you  to  your  party  at  the  Inn  and  bring 
whatever  luggage  you  wish  to  send  back 
with  me,"  said  he. 


172  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"But  I'm  not  coming  back  to  the  Hall 
for  some  time,"  I  answered.  "Do  you  wish 
to  go  with  me  to  the  militia  camp?  It's 
doubtful  if  they  would  receive  you  well,  or 
allow  you  to  return  to  the  frigate  after  see- 
ing your  uniform." 

"  We  only  go  three  miles,"  said  the  man, 
"and  if  your  party  is  not  with  us  after 
traveling  that  distance,  we  will  postpone 
meeting  them  this  evening  and  shall  re- 
turn together." 

"Shall  is  a  big  word,"  said  Barren,  laugh- 
ing. "Don't  you  know  any  better  than 
to  use  it  to  a  gentleman  ?  I  reckon  your 
discipline  or  early  family  training  has  been 
neglected." 

"  Our  discipline  aboard  the  Fowey  is  fair," 


RICHARD  JUDKINS*   WOOING  173 

answered  the  soldier,  coolly,  "and  as  for 
my  family  training,  I  don't  think  such 
things  count  for  much.  Family  is  nothing 
to  me,  for  the  only  ones  I  ever  knew  of 
mine  were  cowardly  and  bad." 

"Does  that  apply  to  your  mother  and 
father  ?  "  asked  Barren,  much  amused. 

"Most  certainly.  My  mother  was  a 
woman  on  the  streets,  and  my  father  was 
probably  some  chance  acquaintance  of  a  day 
or  two,  though  I  never  heard  his  name,  or 
have  I  ever  met  him;  but  if  you  think  my 
ancestry  makes  me  an  inferior  being  to  your 
self,  I  shall  take  pleasure  in  proving  that  a 
man' s  worth  depends  entirely  on  the  educa- 
tion or  training  he  gives  himself,  mentally 
or  physically." 


174  RICHARD   JUDKINS*   WOOING 

"  You  speak  with  great  precision,"  laughed 
Barron,  "and  I  am  sorry  not  to  have  time 
to  discuss  your  theory  to  a  better  advantage. 
That  tall  pine  tree  ahead,  with  the  eagle's 
nest  in  its  top,  is  a  trifle  over  three  miles 
from  Judkins'  Hall,  so  I  regret  to  have  to. 
bid  you  good  evening." 

"If  that  really  be  so  we  shall  all  turn 
about  here  and  go  back  to  the  boat.  We 
shall  proceed  no  further  in  this  direction.  I 
suppose  you  know  I  am  master  of  arms  on 
the  frigate  and  quite  capable  of  enforcing 
my  words  with  this."  And  he  whipped 
out  a  long  shining  sword  and  his  silent 
mate  did  likewise. 

"Of  course  you  gentlemen  will  not  resort 
to  anything  so  vulgar  and  absurd  as  resis- 


KICHAKD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  175 

tance.     Therefore  turn  your  horses  and  we 
may  discuss  other  matters." 

My  temper  had  been  steadily  rising  for 
some  minutes  past,  and  now  it  burst  beyond 
my  control. 

I  snatched  out  my  rapier  and  dug  my 
heels  into  my  horse's  ribs.  The  animal 
sprang  forward  twenty  paces.  Then  I 
drew  up  and  wheeled  suddenly,  and  then 
bore  down  on  that  Corporal  with  all  speed, 
my  sword  point  aimed  at  his  breast. 

There  was  a  crash  as  the  animals  and 
weapons  met,  and  the  next  thing  I  knew  I 
was  lying  on  my  back  by  the  roadside, 
grasping  the  hilt  of  my  puny,  broken  sword 
tightly  in  my  right  hand. 

Barren    sat    quietly    in    his    saddle    and 


176  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

laughed  immoderately  at  me,  while  the 
soldier  seized  my  horse  by  the  bridle  and 
bade  me  remount. 

I  sat  up  in  the  roadway  a  little  dazed, 
but,  collecting  myself,  I  felt  under  my  coat 

to  see  if  my  pistols  were  all  right.  They 
were  there,  so  I  arose,  and,  taking  my 
horse  from  the  Corporal,  climbed  painfully 
back  into  the  saddle  again.  Barron  then 
drew  his  weapon  and  slowly  placed  himself 
on  guard. 

"  You  may  or  may  not  be  right  in  your 
theory,  Mr.  Soldier,"  said  he,  "but  we  are 
not  to  accompany  you  back  to  Dunmore. 
Mr.  Judkins  is  a  very  young  and  inexperi- 
enced swordsman  compared  to  yourself,  but 
his  mishap  was  due  more  to  the  worthless- 
ness  of  his  weapon  than  lack  of  skill." 


EICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  177 

"Tut!  tut!  I  shall  be  forced  to  secure 
both  of  you  with  cords,  if  this  nonsense  pro- 
ceeds any  further,"  said  the  Corporal. 
"Put  up  your  sword  and  waste  no  more 
time.  Jim! ';  he  called  to  his  mate,  "pass  a 
line  about  Mr.  Judkin's  wrists,  lest  he  con- 
tinue this  nonsense  past  supper  time." 

The  soldier  approached  and  bade  me  hold 
forth  my  hands  that  he  might  secure  them 
with  a  line  he  produced  from  under  his 
belt.  I  saw  there  was  no  use  of  putting  off 
the  crisis  any  longer,  so  I  held  out  one  of 
them — my  right — and  in  it  was  gripped  the 
butt  of  the  straightest  shooting  pistol  on  the 
Virginia  peninsula. 

"Give  me  your  sword  hilt,"  I  said,  as  I 
raised  the  barrel  level  with  his  eyes.  But 


178  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

the  fool  had  seen  me  unhorsed  so  grossly, 
that  he  laughed  in  my  face,  and  made  a  pass 
at  my  weapon  with  his  blade.  I  held  fire 
while  his  point  cut  my  cheek  open,  and  I 
ordered  him  back,  hoping  I  could  spare  his 
life.  But  he  cursed  me  and  pressed  on, 
aiming  a  blow  at  my  head  to  knock  me 
from  my  horse,  so  I  could  wait  no  longer. 
Then,  to  save  my  life,  I  pulled  down  the 
flint.  The  next  instant  he  lay  dead  in  the 
road  with  a  bullet  hole  in  the  center  of  his 
forehead. 

It  was  all  done  so  quickly  that  the  Cor- 
poral and  Barron  sat  looking  on,  hardly 
realizing  what  had  happened.  This  gave 
me  the  moment  I  needed,  so  I  pulled  out 
my  left  hand  weapon. 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  179 

"  Surrender  your  sword,  sir,"  I  cried  to 
the  Corporal,  for  the  excitement  of  the  fight 
was  hot  within  me  and  my  patience  was  at 
an  end. 

"  Not  to  such  a  swordsman  as  you ;  it 
would  disgrace  me,"  replied  the  Corporal 
contemptuously,  and  he  began  the  fight  by 
making  a  pass  at  Barron,  which  the  old 
Captain  parried.  Bound  and  round  and 
past  each  other  went  the  horses,  guided  by 
trained  hands,  and  the  sword  blades  slipped 
with  a  ringing  sound  from  lunge  to  parry. 
So  fast  did  they  fight  that  I  found  myself 
sitting  there  quietly  in  my  saddle  looking 
on,  never  thinking  for  an  instant  that  one 
snap  shot  from  my  pistol  would  put  an  end 
to  the  affair.  It  was  rapidly  growing  dark, 


180  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

but  at  that  distance  I  could  have  broken  the 
soldier's  sword  blade  while  it  was  in  play, 
had  I  so  wished. 

The  man  was  certainly  a  master  of  fence 
and  I  soon  saw  that  Barron  had  no  chance 
whatever  with  him.  Still  I  never  thought 
to  fire  upon  a  man  engaged  with  another  in 
a  fair  fight.  The  cut  in  my  cheek  bled 
freely,  but  I  felt  no  pain  or  dizziness  and 
was  cool  enough  to  think  calmly.  Once  the 
thought  came  to  me  to  get  the  dead  man's 
sword  and  take  part  in  the  unequal  affray, 
but  I  put  it  aside  and  made  up  my  mind  to 
shoot  only  at  the  last  minute  to  save  Bar- 
ron's  life.  Suddenly  a  new  idea  flashed 
through  my  head  and  I  instantly  raised  the 
pistol.  The  corporal's  horse  turned  his  nose 


BICHAED   JUDKINS'    WOOING  181 

in  my  direction  and  I  marked  the  white 
blaze  between  his  eyes. 

"Crack!"  And  down  both  horse  and 
rider  went,  just  as  Barren  whirled  a  wicked 
cut  at  the  soldier's  head.  The  old  Captain's 
weapon  went  wide  and  the  Corporal  jumped 
to  his  feet  as  lightly  as  a  cat  and  was  on 
guard  again  before  Barron  fully  realized 
what  had  happened. 

"  Come  ! "  I  cried.  "  Let  him  go  ! "  And 
I  galloped  away  down  the  road  before  I  fin- 
ished speaking.  Barron  wheeled  his  horse 
to  follow  just  as  the  soldier  started  for  him. 
In  an  instant  the  animals  were  together, 
running  neck  and  neck,  with  that  Corporal 
within  six  feet  of  Barren's  saddle,  running 
as  I  had  never  seen  a  man  run  before. 


182  BICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

Away  we  went,  and  for  a  second  or  two  I 
was  afraid  Barron  would  be  run  through  the 
back,  but  the  pace  proved  a  trifle  too  strong 
for  our  enemy. 

Seeing  this,  the  rascal  made  a  vicious  cut 
at  Barron's  mount  and  almost  hamstrung 
him,  and  then  he  dropped  back  while  the 
poor  animal  hobbled  ahead  desperately  for 
several  minutes,  and  finally  brought  up  dead 
lame. 

"That  man  will  certainly  prove  he  is 
equal  to  both  of  us,"  said  Barron,  "  and  put 
at  variance  all  laws  of  heredity,  if  we  don't 
do  something  to  stop  him." 

"It's  a  pity  I  didn't  shoot  him,  for  that 
was  my  last  shot,"  I  said.  "Here  he  comes, 
and  unless  you  can  hold  him  in  check  until 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  183 

I  get  a  charge  into  this  pistol,  we  will  indeed 
see  Dunmore  or  the  devil  to-night." 

As  I  spoke  the  figure  of  the  Corporal 
showed  through  the  gathering  darkness, 
coming  along  the  edge  of  the  road  at  a 
smart  walk  with  his  long  sword  in  front  of 
him. 

"  You  ride  on  ahead  and  let  me  settle  with 
him,"  said  Barron,  quietly. 

"  It  is  uncommon  shameful  to  have  to  run 
from  this  vermin,"  I  said,  "but  I  had  him 
at  my  mercy  once  and  let  him  go." 

"So  had  he  you,  my  boy,"  laughed  Bar- 
ron. 

It  did  seem  hard  to  have  to  get  away  from 
this  creature,  the  acknowledged  offspring  of 
a  prostitute,  but  it  was  apparently  certain 


184  RICHARD    JUDKINS'   WOOING 

death  to  face  him.  I  strove  to  get  a  charge 
into  one  of  my  pistols,  but  by  the  time  I  had 
the  powder  in  the  barrel  he  was  up  with  us. 
He  saw  what  I  was  about  and  instantly 
started  for  me.  And  then,  yes,  I  shall  have 
to  confess  it,  then  I  put  spurs  to  my  mount 
and  went  down  that  dark  road  as  though 
thirty  devils  were  at  my  heels.  The  cor- 
poral's long  sword  could  not  reach  me,  so  he 
soon  gave  up  the  chase  and  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  Barron. 

In  another  minute  my  pistol  was  loaded 
and  I  was  riding  back  again  as  fast  as  I 
could. 

Barron  had  dismounted  and  they  had  just 
begun  a  passage  as  I  rode  up. 

I  was  almost  beside  myself  with  rage  and 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'    WOOING  185 

I  rode  close  to  the  soldier  to  be  certain  of  my 
aim.  I  meant  to  end  matters  and  would  run 
no  risk  at  night,  so  I  shot  quick  and  sure  for 
the  centre  of  the  man's  body  and  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  him  double  up  and 
drop  in  the  'oadway. 

Barron  stooped  over  him  and  picked  up 
his  long  straight  sword.  He  looked  at  it  fos 
a  moment  and  then  passed  it  to  me.  It  war 
a  very  heavy  weapon  and  as  sharp  as  a 
razor. 

"Come,  "said  Barron,  "let  us  carry  him 
into  the  bushes  and  go  ahead." 

The  form  of  the  soldier  moved  slightly  as 
he  spoke. 

"I  thought  you  killed  him,"  he  continued, 
and  he  sprang  forward  with  his  sword 
drawn  back  for  a  final  thrust. 


186  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"Hold  on! "I  cried,  "he's  dead  unless 
made  of  iron,"  and  I  jumped  down  from  my 
horse  and  bent  over  the  fallen  man  just  as 
he  started  to  raise  himself. 

"His  belt!  Quick!"  I  cried,  and  I  grasped 
him  around  the  body  with  all  my  strength. 

Before  he  fully  realized  what  was  taking 
place,  we  had  his  elbows  lashed  fast  behind 
him  and  I  had  a  chance  to  find  out  why  he 
not  was  dead. 

My  bullet  had  struck  him  just  below  the 
breast  "bone  and  over  the  heart,  but  between 
him  and  it  was  the  cross  belt  buckle-plate  of 
his  uniform.  The  lead  had  flattened  on  this, 
but  the  stroke  of  the  ball  had  sent  him  to 
the  ground  unable  to  move  for  over  a  min- 
ute. 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  187 

"You  are  a  most  disputatious  man,  Mr 
Soldier,"  said  Barren,  good  humoredly,  "and 
at  one  time  you  had  nearly  all  the  facts  nec- 
essary to  establish  the  truthfulness  of  your 
side  of  the  argument.  I  hope  you  are  now 
convinced  of  the  value  of  good  breeding,  and 
will  not,  in  the  future,  thrust  yourself  into 
company  uncongenial  to  your  taste.  How- 
ever, you  shall  now  accompany  us  to  the 
Inn,  for  I  would  hardly  trust  you  to  return 
to  Mr  Johnson  alone  to-night." 

"Had  I  believed  you  were  not  too  scared 
to  return,"  said  the  soldier,  looking  straight 
at  me,  "I  would  have  followed  you  and 
killed  you.  Your  horse  is  a  good  runner." 

"And  for  such  an  absurd  mistake,  I  very 
nearly  killed  you,"  I  answered.  "Had  I 


188  KICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

known  you  were  so  bent  upon  mischief,  I 
would  have  sent  your  soul  to  the  devil  some 
twenty  minutes  ago.  We  will  now  go  back 
and  get  your  mate's  horse  and  you  will 
walk  between  us  the  rest  of  the  way." 

In  a  few  minutes  we  were  back  to  where 
the  dead  soldier  lay  and  Barron  was  soon 
mounted  upon  his  animal — which,  by  the 
way,  was  mine,  as  were  also  the  other  three, 
and  it  caused  me  some  little  regret  to  lose 
two  of  them  on  account  of  this  hard  headed 
soldier. 

We  carried  the  dead  man  to  the  roadside 
and  laid  him  in  bushes.  Then  we  proceeded 
quietly  upon  our  way,  and  the  moon  rose 
like  a  huge  ball  of  silver  to  light  up  the 
dark  road. 


CHAPTER  IX 

Pendleton's  Inn,  as  you  may  remember, 
was  a  famous  place  in  its  time.  Colonel 
George  Washington  often  stopped  there, 
and  Mr.  Patrick  Henry  often  held  a  group 
of  listeners  spellbound  with  his  peculiar 
eloquence  on  its  wide  verandah. 

So  proud  was  the  proprietor  of  his  distin- 
guished guests,  that  the  bed  Colonel  Wash- 
ington usually  slept  in,  and  even  a  certain 
chair  at  the  head  of  the  dining  room  table, 
in  which  it  was  claimed  he  generally  sat, 
have  been  preserved  and  pointed  out  to 
new-comers  as  objects  of  peculiar  interest. 
As  for  me,  I  have  been  to  hardly  a  single 

(189) 


190  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

house  between  New  York  and  Richmond 
that  has  not  boasted  of  possessing  some  of 
the  Washington  furniture,  and  I  have  been 
somewhat  sociable  in  my  habits. 

Pendleton  himself  was  a  sad  rake.  But 
his  hospitality  was  known  to  the  young 
men  for  miles  around,  and  his  house  was 
often  used  as  a  meeting  place  on  Sunday 
afternoons,  when  the  gentlemen  would  in- 
dulge themselves  in  such  exciting  sports  as 
cock-fighting  and  rat  killing.  Sometimes 
affrays  of  a  more  sanguinary  nature  oc- 
curred within  the  limits  of  its  broad  orchard, 
but  these  happened  seldom,  and,  on  the 
whole,  the  Inn  was  considered  respectable 
enough  for  any  lady  in  the  commonwealth. 

"I  could  not  have  stood  it  much  longer, 


KICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  191 

my  dear  Richard,"  said  my  mother,  the 
morning  after  our  arrival.  "I  am  too  old 
for  such  scenes  as  that  which  happened  at 
the  Hall.  I  have  not  slept  since  Mary  was 
taken  away,  and  I  have  not  had  my  bath 
for  two  days.  All  the  servants  ran  away 
from  that  odious  Captain  and  his  terrible 
men.  The  only  ones  I  have  with  me  here 
are  old  Mammy  Liza  and  Mary  Jane  John- 
son. They  were  so  old  the  men  took  no 
notice  of  them,  so  they  hobbled  all  the  way 
over  here  to  me.  But  they  cannot  do  any- 
thing, let  alone  fix  my  bath.  And  poor 
Rose,  she  has  been  so  quiet.  Not  a  word 
has  passed  her  lips  and  she  walks  to  and  fro 
in  her  room  with  her  head  held  tightly  in 
her  hands.  The  shock  to  her  young  nerves 


192  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

at  seeing  such  revelry  has  completely  un- 
strung her.  Mammy  Liza  said  she  had 
delirium  last  night,  for  she  heard  Rose 
scream  '  villain '  and  '  scoundrel '  at  the  top 
of  her  voice,  and  when  she  looked  into  her 
room  she  was  sitting  in  bed  with  her  hands 
clenched  and  her  eyes  staring  into  va- 
cancy." 

"  I  suppose  she  will  not  breakfast  with  us, 
then,"  I  said. 

"I  doubt  it,  but  when  I  tell  her  you  and 
Captain  Barren  are  to  take  us  to  Williams- 
burg,  she  may  make  her  appearance  in 
time.  You  will  not  leave  before  we  get 
some  news  of  Will  and  Lord  Dunmore,  will 
you  ? " 

"Possibly  not,"  I  answered,    "but  it  is 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  193 

hardly  worth  while  to  stay  here.  It  is  not 
likely  the  Governor  will  send  a  party  this 
far  inland  after  us,  and  as  for  Will,  he  will 
have  no  message  of  importance,  even  if  he 
has  a  chance  to  send  one.  The  Governor  is 
in  a  hurry  to  get  out  of  the  river,  for  the 
climate  does  not  agree  with  him.  He  is 
probably  now  as  far  down  as  Jamestown  on 
his  way  out." 

While  I  was  speaking,  Barren  made  his 
appearance,  accompained  by  old  Pendleton 
and  half  a  score  of  armed  men  who  had 
camped  in  the  barn  over  night.  These 
militiamen  were  on  their  way  to  join  the 
forces  under  Colonel  Henry,  and  they  were 
armed  and  dressed  in  the  most  fantastic 
manner.  They  had  just  visited  our  prisoner, 


194  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

the  Corporal,  who  was  confined  in  a  box- 
stall  in  the  stable,  and  were  in  high  good 
humor  at  the  soldier's  fierce  threats  and 
wild  vaporings.  Barren  left  these  men  on 
the  far  end  of  the  verandah  and  came  up 
and  saluted  my  mother. 

"I  shall  wait  upon  you,  madam,"  he 
said,  "just  as  soon  as  I  ride  over  to  my 
lodgings  at  the  Widow  Brown's  house  and 
attend  to  some  little  private  matters  there. 
It  is  not  likely  I  will  be  back  this  way 
before  next  year,  and  I  reckon  I  had  better 
tell  my  landlady  so.  I  think,  however,  that 
the  Governor  has  made  his  last  trip  up  th<-» 
river,  and,  if  that  is  the  case,  you  can  soon 
go  back  and  remain  unmolested  at  the  Hall. 
But  here  comes  our  host,  and  he  looks  as  if 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  195 

he  had  some  matters  of  importance  to  com- 
municate." 

"Matam  ees  sarved  wid  her  bickfust," 
spoke  up  old  Pendleton,  giving  my  mother 
a  sweeping  bow  as  he  approached. 

"In  that  case  we  will  all  go  in  together 
and  fortify  ourselves  for  the  coming  ride," 
I  said,  and  I  led  the  way  to  the  table  with 
my  mother  on  my  arm.  We  no  sooner  sat 
down  than  Miss  Carter  made  her  appear- 
ance. It  was  so  late  the  night  before  when 
we  arrived  that  I  had  not  had  a  chance  for 
more  than  a  word  of  greeting  with  her,  so 
she  received  Barren  and  myself  very  gra- 
ciously. 

In  spite  of  her  pleasant  manner,  I  noticed 
the  large  blue  eyes — I  had  seen  only  to 


196  RICHARD   JTJDKINS'   WOOING 

admire  so  often  before — were  swollen  and 
red,  and  the  poor  girl  appeared  to  have 
suffered  much.  A  man  must  be  very  selfish 
when  in  love,  for  it  was  quite  plain  to  me 
that  she  was  suffering  more  than  I,  yet  I 
would  not  have  had  Harrison  back  there  at 
that  moment,  had  I  been  certain  of  his  con- 
ventional behavior  with  my  sister  Mary. 
There  is  no  use  of  denying  it,  I  felt  almost 
glad  that  he  had  run  off  with  my  sister. 
I  was  sure  Mary  loved  him,  and  I  reasoned 
that  no  harm  could  happen  to  her.  I  was 
equally  certain  Byrd  would  soon  reappear 
with  the  news  that  she  and  Harrison  were 
happily  married.  I  was  furious  to  see  this 
beautiful  woman  breaking  her  heart  for 
another,  but  was  glad  that  his  act  was  irre- 
vocable and  left  the  field  clear  for  myself. 


BICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  197 

Barren  waxed  especially  lively  during  the 
meal  and  ordered  some  of  Pendleton's  new 
cider,  suggesting  that  Miss  Carter  and  my 
mother  drink  some  to  refresh  themselves 
for  lack  of  sleep. 

"It  is  weak  enough,  I  reckon,"  said  he, 
"  for  I  call  to  mind  the  time  Bullbeggor  and 
I  stopped  here  last  year.  His  nigger,  Snake 
in  the  Grass,  had  never  seen  this  stuff,  for 
the  Major  sticks  pretty  well  to  stronger 
waters.  One  cold  night  I  gave  the  rascal 
a  bottle  filled  with  the  stuff  and  told  him  to 
be  careful  with  it,  as  it  was  very  good.  He 
sneaked  off  after  supper  into  the  woods  and 
the  Major  couldn't  find  him  again  that 
evening.  About  midnight,  while  we  sat 
smoking  and  talking,  we  heard  a  knock  at 


198  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

the  door.  I  went  into  the  entry  and  opened 
it,  and  there  was  Snake,  shivering  and  shak- 
ing with  cold.  '  What's  the  matter,  Snake  ? ' 
I  asked,  when  I  got  him  inside.  'Oh, 
Marse  Barron,  yo'  dun  me  mean,'  he  said, 
'  I  went  outen  the  woods  to  drink  dat  stuff 
on  de  quiet,  an'  I  dun  set  thar  fo'  hours 
waitin  fo'  de  drunk  tu  come — an'  I'se  nearly 
froze.  Yessah,  yo'  dun  me  mean,  suh;  sho' 
nuff  mean,  an'  I'se  nearly  froze.'" 

"Major  Bull,  he  stopped  here  de  oder  day 
wid  his  nigger,"  added  Pendleton. 

"How about  his  shoulder,  was  it  paining 
him  much? "  I  asked. 

"His  shoulder!  Nien  it  was  a  leedle  hole, 
de  pain  shooded  all  through  him.  He  has 
dem  shooding  pains  always  shooding  through 


EICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  199 

him.  Dey  was  only  leedle  pains.  Mein  Gott! 
I  never  see  de  Major,  but  wid  a  leedle  shood- 
ing  pain." 

"  Then  he  went  on  and  joined  the  militia 
at  Williamsburg  as  he  intended?"  asked 
Miss  Rose. 

"Not  only  that,"  I  put  in,  "but  it  was  he 
who  did  some  little  fighting  with  that  Cap- 
tain Fordyce  in  the  little  skirmish  below 
here  the  other  day." 

"And  perhaps  that  is  why  the  Captain 
acted  as  he  did  at  the  Hall.  People  are  usu- 
ally judged  by  the  company  they  keep,  and 
they  all  had  heard  of  the  duel,"  said  Miss 
Rose,  with  a  little  sting  of  resentment  in  her 
voice. 

"If  that  be  really  so,  people's  judgments 


200  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

are  most  unjust,  for  a  man  certainly  cannot 
always  choose  his  own  companions,"  I 
replied. 

"I  think  he  can,"  she  answered. 

"God  grant  that  it  be  even  so,"  I  said, 
quietly,  and  I  caught  her  eye  for  an  instant. 

Barren  was  laughing  and  looking  at  my 
mother,  but  Miss  Carter  appeared  to  take  no 
notice  of  him  and  continued  to  eat  her  egg 
with  more  ill  tempter  than  appetite. 

When  we  were  through  the  meal,  Barron 
rode  over  to  his  lodgings  and  then  returned 
within  an  hour.  After  that  we  had  the 
horses  brought  up,  and  he  and  I  acted  as 
outriders  to  my  mother  and  Miss  Carter,  who 
rode  in  Pendleton's  chaise  with  old  Mammy 
Liza  and  Mary  Jane  on  the  rear  seat.  One  of 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  201 

my  field  hands,  who  came  over  to  the  Inn, 
acted  as  driver.  Pendleton  was  to  collect  the 
rest  of  my  people  and  take  care  of  them 
until  my  mother  was  ready  to  return  to  the 
Hall. 

We  started  off  with  a  contingent  of  the 
militia  bringing  up  behind  us  as  a  rear 
guard,  and  among  them  walked  the  Corporal 
with  his  belt  strapped  about  his  elbows  be- 
hind him. 

It  was  something  uncommon  in  the  way  of 
a  procession,  as  we  rode  slowly  down  the 
old  Virginia  turnpike.  Barron,  sitting  his 
horse  in  an  easy,  soldierly  fashion,  riding  on 
one  side  of  the  carriage,  and  I  riding  on  the 
other,  while  the  motley  men  with  muskets 
and  squirrel  rifles,  having  the  English  cor- 


202  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

poral  in  their  midst,  came  straggling  along 
through  our  thick  yellow  dust-cloud  in  the 
rear.  The  sun  shone  brightly  and  the  birds 
sang  merrily  in  the  fields  and  woodlands,  so 
our  spirits  rose,  and  even  Miss  Carter  began 
to  smile  at  Barren's  jests. 

The  long,  heavy  sword  I  captured  from 
the  Corporal  jangled  uncomfortably  from 
my  belt,  and  it,  together  with  my  two  silver 
mounted  pistols,  which  I  now  carried  in  full 
view,  gave  me  a  most  warlike  appearance. 
But  my  clothing  was  of  the  latest  fashion, 
and  even  my  shoes  showed  the  marks  of 
care  my  poor  boy  Sam  had  bestowed  upon 
them.  But  if  I  attracted  some  attention 
from  the  neighboring  farmers,  I  hardly 
know  what  amount  of  interest  was  excited 
by  the  looks  of  our  strange  followers. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  203 

Some  of  these  had  their  hair  long  and 
matted,  hanging  down  over  blouses  or  hunt- 
ing shirts  of  deer  skin,  giving  them  an  al- 
most wild  look.  Their  long  rifles  had  the 
old  fashioned  heavy  flint  and  wide  primer 
and  were  of  small  calibre,  best  fitted  for 
hunting  squirrels  and  such  game.  But  their 
powder  horns  held  enough  ammunition  for 
a  campaign,  and  they  were  all  tolerable 
shots.  Those  who  carried  muskets  appeared 
perfectly  contented  that  their  weapons  made 
a  loud  noise  and  asked  for  nothing  better 
than  a  range  at  which  it  would  be  almost 
impossible  to  miss  an  enemy — or  hit  a  friend. 
Some  carried  old  swords  of  the  most  unusual 
patterns, — looking  as  though  they  might 
have  once  done  good  duty  as  scythes, — and 


204  RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

all  carried  knives.  A  young  clown,  from 
one  of  the  upper  counties,  carried  a  musket 
with  fixed  bayonet  and  had  the  impudence 
to  try  and  force  the  Corporal  to  put  him 
through  the  manual  of  arms,  even  threaten- 
ing to  blow  the  soldier's  head  off  if  he  gave 
an  improper  order.  All  of  them  were  en- 
tirely without  discipline,  and  all  gave  orders 
and  offered  suggestions  at  one  and  the  same 
time.  This,  of  course,  invariably  ended  in 
a  dispute  that  had  to  be  settled  by  long  ar- 
guments, in  which  all  who  wished  to  took 
part.  Several  times,  during  their  bickerings, 
they  fell  far  behind  us,  only  to  catch  up 
again  later  on,  and  all  day  long  their  hilari- 
ous songs,  accompanied  by  frequent  fusi- 
lades  of  rifle  shots,  kept  us  in  excellent 
knowledge  of  their  whereabouts. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  205 

At  noon  we  passed  Doncastle's  ordinary, 
where  the  affair  of  the  gunpowder  brought 
about  the  first  distinct  rupture  between  Lord 
Dunmore  and  the  people.  Everything  ap- 
peared quiet  and  peaceful  and  the  place 
showed  no  signs  of  war. 

We  had  little  conversation  on  the  ride, 
and  I  found  myself  thinking  a  great  deal  of 
my  poor  boy  Sam  and  Will  Byrd.  Will,  I 
felt  sure,  would  take  care  of  the  wounded 
fellow  and  endeavor  to  prevent  him  from 
falling  into  other  hands,  and  I  believed  Sam 
would  soon  get  over  his  hurt,  for  he  was  a 
powerful  nigger,  broad-built  and  with  good 
pluck.  I  tried  to  imagine  what  would  hap- 
pen to  Harrison  if  Sam  ever  met  him  before 
matters  were  peacefully  settled.  But  then 


206  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

I  knew  that  Harrison  would  not  return  to 
his  plantation  until  the  war  was  over,  and  I 
believed  it  would  be  a  long  time  before  peace 
reigned  again  in  the  colonies. 

At  intervals  during  the  ride  I  came  close 
to  the  carriage  and  endeavored  to  engage 
Miss  Carter's  attention,  but  she  appeared  so 
sad  and  listless  that,  out  of  sheer  pity,  I 
forbore  to  worry  her  with  my  presence. 
Once  I  thought  I  noticed  her  looking  at  me 
intently  with  a  curious,  searching  expres- 
sion in  her  eyes  for  some  moments,  but 
when  I  turned  my  gaze  in  her  direction  she 
immediately  stared  vacantly  at  the  scenery 
ahead. 

I  told  my  mother  of  my  intention  of 
joining  the  forces  under  Mr.  Henry,  and 


RICHARD   JUDKINS1   WOOING  207 

strange  to  say  she  did  not  appear  to  be 
either  surprised  or  disappointed.  On  the 
contrary,  she  began  instantly  to  give  me  all 
manner  of  advice  about  taking  care  of 
myself  when  camping  in  the  field,  and 
above  all  implored  me  never  to  expose 
myself  to  the  danger  of  getting  shot. 

"  It  is  absurd,"  said  she,  "  that  a  gentle- 
man should  expose  himself  to  the  hurts 
which  belong  to  the  common,  vulgar  soldier. 
A  true  general  always  takes  care  of  him- 
self, for  with  him  rests  the  care  of  the 
whole  army.  Should  anything  happen  to 
the  officer  in  command,  what,  oh  what 
would  become  of  those  poor  fellows  depend- 
ent upon  him  for  his  high  courage  and 
intelligence  ?  They  would  certainly  be  lost, 


208  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

and  it  is  for  them,  my  dear  Richard,  you 
should  sacrifice  all  brute  feelings  of  fero- 
cious courage  and  keep  yourself  in  hand." 

Barron  agreed  with  her  in  her  sentiments, 
and  she  made  him  promise  faithfully  that 
he  would  never  leave  my  side  in  the  hour 
of  danger,  and  never  allow  me  to  be  carried 
away  by  my  youthful  ardor;  all  of  which 
he  did  with  a  grave  countenance,  and  some 
little  ceremony,  in  spite  of  a  little  frivolity 
on  my  part. 

In  the  late  afternoon  we  caught  sight  of 
the  white  tents  of  the  militia,  and  soon 
afterwards  we  were  entering  the  quaint  old 
town  of  Williamsburg.  We  headed  for  my 
uncle's  house,  which  stood  near  the  college, 
in  the  best  part  of  the  town,  for  my  uncle's 


EICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  209 

wife,  Aunt  Jane,  as  I  called  her,  was  a 
person  of  some  prominence,  and  was  of  the 
ancient  family  of  O'Brian,  which,  as  you 
know,  was  once  royal. 

The  streets  were  full  of  men  from  the 
surrounding  country,  who  gathered  in 
groups  as  we  passed,  and  pointed  at  us  and 
stared  as  though  we  were  something 
remarkable.  But  they  were  all  rough  men, 
who  had  never  seen  much,  and  belonged 
to  the  outlying  settlements  and  farms  where 
no  gentleman  ever  gets,  except  by  hunting 
or  some  mishap.  The  men  who  appeared 
to  be  soldiers  wore  no  regular  uniform, 
and  might  have  passed  for  a  lot  of  armed 
yokels  starting  out  on  a  coon  hunt. 

As  we    drew    near    our    destination    we 


210  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

heard  the  sound  of  galloping  horses,  and 
presently  several  mounted  men  came  rid- 
ing around  the  corner  ahead  of  us. 

I  recognized  Patrick  Henry  and  Colonel 
Woodford  at  a  glance.  The  former  had 
made  himself  a  colonel  of  militia  and  rode  a 
powerful  grey  Jhorse  at  the  front  of  the 
groups,  while  on  either  hand  rode  Colonel 
Woodford  and  Colonel  Bullet.  Behind 
them  came  several  other  gentlemen,  well 
known  along  the  James  river  for  their  anti- 
British  politics.  Among  them  I  recognized 
Major  Bullbeggor  and  also  Mr.  Jacquelin,  who 
had  been  captured  by  Fordyce,  and  who 
had  escaped  from  his  captors  by  running 
while  they  were  suddenly  confined  in  his 
wine  ceUar.  Still  farther  in  the  rear  rode 


RICHAED  JUDKINS'   WOOING  211 

some  mounted  servants,  with  Snake  in  the 
Grass  in  their  midst. 

The  Major  saluted  with  a  flourish  as  he 
rode  past,  as  did  the  rest  of  the  officers,  and 
Snake's  hat  continued  to  rise  and  fall  while 
his  nodding,  grinning  face  was  turned 
towards  us  until  the  cavalcade  disappeared 
in  the  direction  of  the  encampment  behind 
the  college. 

On  arriving  at  our  destination,  we  received 
a  warm  welcome  from  my  aunt  Jane  and 
cousin  Marion.  Although  my  uncle,  Thomas 
Burns,  Esq.,  had  died  some  years  before,  my 
aunt  and  cousin  were  living  in  the  most 
comfortable  circumstances.  While  they 
lived  simply  in  their  large  mansion,  they 
had  an  abundance  of  home  comforts  and 


212  RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

many  house  servants,  and  cousin  Marion, 
though  only  sixteen,  was  considered  one  of 
the  wealthiest  as  well  as  prettiest  women  in 
Virginia.  Aunt  Jane  was  well  known  for 
her  kind  acts  of  charity  and  hospitality,  so 
you  may  be  sure  there  was  nothing  lacking 
for  our  comfort  on  our  arrival  at  her  house. 

In  spite  of  this  Barron  and  I  were  all 
eagerness  to  go  to  the  camp  and  report  to 
Colonel  Henry — as  we  now  heard  him  called 
— for  duty.  Even  the  prospect  of  a  few 
hours  alone  with  Miss  Carter  and  my  pretty 
cousin  Marion,  was  not  enough  to  curb  my 
impatience  to  be  among  the  men,  who  I 
now  felt  certain  would  make  some  history 
to  be  handed  down  through  all  time. 

I  know  Marion  laughed  at  my  warlike  ap- 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  213 

pearance,  but  I  changed  that  a  little  by  fix- 
ing my  pistols  under  my  coat  and  hitching 
up  my  heavy  broadsword  until  it  cocked  up 
as  prettily  behind  as  a  rapier.  In  this  attire 
I  bade  my  pretty  cousin  good-bye,  with 
cousinly  privilege,  and  bowed  low  to  Miss 
Carter.  Then  Barron  and  I  mounted  our 
horses  and  rode  off  with  Marion's  laugh  ring- 
ing after  us.  She  was  a  very  pretty  girl 
and  as  good  as  ever  lived,  but  I  thought  very 
little  about  her  as  we  rode  down  the  main 
street  in  the  direction  of  Colonel  Henry's 
headquarters. 


CHAPTER  X 

The  first  person  we  met  on  arriving  in 
front  of  Colonel  Henry's  house  was  our  old 
friend,  Major  Bullbeggor. 

"I  am  feeling  pretty  peart,  Mr.  Judkins," 
he  replied,  in  answer  to  my  greeting.  ' '  That 
little  punch  Harrison  gave  me  is  almost 
well,  and  besides  a  slight  twitching  of  the 
bones  and  some  little  stiffening  of  the  joints, 
with  a  little  pain  shooting  through  them,  I 
am  feeling  fine,  sir.  Yes,  sir,  feeling  like  a 
bird,  sir.  But  where  on  earth  did  you  get 
that  English  sword,  and  what  brought  you 
and  your  mother  here  so  soon  ?  Dunmore, 
for  sure.  No  fear  !  The  rascal  passed  down 

(214) 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  215 

the  river  this  morning  and  I  don't  think  he 
will  try  coming  up  again.  But  what  can 
we  do  without  ships  or  guns  ?  We  gave 
them  a  dusting  on  the  island,  the  other  day, 
and  lost  poor  Jim  Horn  and  three  niggers 
before  leaving.  Bullet  and  I  had  a  hard 
time  to  get  out,  and  Snake  took  a  slight 
hurt." 

"Yes,  I  heard  all  about  it,"  I  answered. 
And  then  Barron  and  I  told  how  we  were 
captured  and  taken  aboard  the  vessels,  and 
how  Harrison  had  served  my  people  at  the 
Hall  while  we  were  absent. 

The  Major's  eyes  flashed  as  we  told  the 
story  and  his  hand  went  nervously  to  his 
sword  hilt.  "  I  didn't  hit  him  hard  enough," 
he  said  fiercely,  when  we  had  told  of  the  ac- 
tions of  the  soldiers  at  the  Hall. 


216  KICHAKD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

While  we  continued  speaking,  we  were 
interrupted  by  an  uproar  which  arose  from 
the  street  beyond  the  college,  and  on  looking 
in  that  direction  from  which  the  sounds  pro- 
ceeded we  suddenly  saw  the  figure  of  a  man, 
covered  completely  from  head  to  foot  with 
feathers,  come  running  along  the  pavement 
towards  us.  Behind  him  came  a  howling 
mob,  armed  with  every  conceivable  sort  of 
weapon,  and  they  pressed  closely  upon  the 
runner's  heels.  The  fugitive  stopped  sud- 
denly in  front  of  me  and  spoke  out— 

"  If  you'll  give  me  that  sword  of  mine  for 
a  few  minutes,  I  think  I  might  show  these 
fools  the  absurdity  of  playing  their  infernal 
games  upon  one  of  his  Majesty's  soldiers," 
he  said  coolly,  and  I  instantly  recognized 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  217 

the  voice  of  the  corporal  who  had  engaged 
us  so  hotly  the  day  before.  He  was  almost 
completely  hidden  under  his  coat  of  tar  and 
feathers,  and  the  only  part  of  his  face  visi- 
ble was  his  nose  and  eyes. 

Barron  and  the  Major  burst  into  uncon- 
trollable laughter,  in  which  I  joined. 

But  the  man's  tormentors  were  upon  him 
before  I  had  even  time  to  consider  his  prop- 
osition. They  surrounded  him  and  began 
prodding  him  with  sticks  and  bayonets, 
shouting  and  jeering  in  derision. 

Bullbeggor  was  the  first  of  us  to  recover 
himself.  He  drew  his  sword  and  struck  his 
spurs  into  his  powerful  mare,  making  her 
spring  forward  through  the  crowd.  He 
knocked  down  several  men  in  his  path  and 
reined  up  alongside  the  prisoner. 


218  EICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"  Disperse  ! "  he  roared.  "  Break  away  ! " 
And  he  struck  some  of  the  men  nearest  him 
with  the  flat  side  of  his  blade.  Barron  and 
I  spurred  forward  and  joined  him,  for  the 
natives  were  waxing  furious  at  this  inter- 
ruption and  I  noticed  one  man  bringing  his 
musket  to  his  shoulder.  The  Major  saw  the 
fellow  in  time  to  avert  disaster,  and  he 
leaned  forward  and  smote  the  weapon  so 
strongly  that  it  fell  from  the  scoundrel's 
hands.  Then  we  closed  around  the  prisoner 
with  our  swords  sweeping  at  arm's  length, 
and  the  Major  thundered  forth  orders  for 
the  men  to  disperse,  threatening  them  with 
all  sorts  of  military  punishments  if  they  did 
not. 

But  these  wild  men  had  no  idea  of  disci- 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  219 

pline,  and  feared  nothing,  so  they  still 
crowded  sulkily  around  us,  brandishing 
their  weapons  and  cursing  us  heartily  for 
interfering  with  their  sport. 

The  uproar  had  been  heard  at  headquar- 
ters, and  Colonel  Henry  appeared  on  the 
verandah  accompanied  by  Colonel  Bullet, 
Woodford,  and  some  other  officers.  Colonel 
Woodford  roared  out  orders,  and  some  of 
the  men  about  us  turned  to  see  who  our 
new  ally  was.  Then  they  suddenly  recog- 
nized Patrick  Henry,  as  he  stood  there  in 
his  waistcoat  on  the  verandah. 

There  was  something  in  the  calm  dignity 
of  Colonel  Henry's  manner  that  arrested  all 
the  fierceness  of  these  rough  men's  passions 
and  drew  attention  to  him  as  the  magnet 


220  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

draws  soft  iron.  He  stood  there  on  the  ver- 
andah and  held  out  his  hand  over  that  wild 
mob,  and  spoke,  and  in  less  than  half  a 
minute  every  man  was  silent  and  listening. 

I  cannot  recall  the  words  that  fell  from 
the  lips  of  that  grand  orator,  and  when  I 
think  of  him  standing  there  speaking,  it 
seems  to  me  it  was  not  the  words  at  all  that 
affected  me,  but  the  deep  power  of  the 
man's  nature. 

I  have  heard  men  speak  to  men  in  my 
time,  and  have  listened  to  some  of  the  elo- 
quent words  of  those  who  have  made  his- 
tory; but  nothing  I  ever  heard  compared  to 
the  power  and  force  of  those  words  that  fell 
from  the  lips  of  that  plain  and  uncouth 
officer  standing  there  on  the  verandah  of 
that  house  in  Williamsburg. 


EICHARD  JUDKINS1    WOOING  221 

He  spoke  to  that  mob  of  honor  and  man- 
hood, and  of  the  grand  things  of  war,  and 
bade  them  remember  that  mercy  to  a  fallen 
enemy  showed  the  difference  between  a 
coward  and  a  man. 

When  he  finished  there  was  not  one  of 
that  ruffian  crowd  who  looked  squarely  at 
his  neighbor,  and  two  minutes  afterwards 
there  were  not  six  of  them  in  sight. 

The  only  person  there  who  appeared  in  no 
way  affected  by  Patrick  Henry's  remarkable 
eloquence,  was  the  English  corporal. 

He  looked  carelessly  about  him  for  a 
moment  and  then  at  Major  Bullbeggor. 

"  I  have  to  thank  you,"  said  he,"  for  inter- 
fering with  those  farmers,  for  as  you  see,  I 
am  entirely  unarmed  and  undressed— except 


222  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

for  this  growth  of  feathers.  But  I  am  no 
chicken  sir,  in  spite  of  them.  No,  sir,  I'm 
hardly  classed  as  a  chicken — as  these  two 
gentlemen  with  you  might  testify. 

"If  the  ugly  old  duck,  there," — and  he 
pointed  to  Barron — "  would  like  to  continue 
the  argument  we  were  engaged  in  last  night, 
I  think  I  might  persuade  him  of  the  fallacy 
of  his  ideas  concerning  his  birth  and  self 
importance." 

"You  have  most  remarkable  powers  of 
logic,"  laughed  Barron,  "and  if  reason  and 
sword-play  were  analogous  I  doubt  not  that 
you  could  sustain  your  premise.  But  there 
are  too  many  men  like  you  in  this  world 
who  wish  to  maintain  their  point  by  reason 
of  false  analogy.  Therefore,  I  warn  you  that 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  223 

unless  you  mend  your  speech  I  shall  turn 
you  over  again  to  Colonel  Gibson's  lambs, 
and  they  will  hardly  let  you  off  so  easily  the 
next  time." 

"If  they  are  his  lambs,"  replied  the  sol- 
dier, turning  and  looking  at  Colonel  Henry, 
"  I  take  it  he  is  a  preacher,  and  now  I  mark 
it,  the  fellow  has  a  most  ecclesiastical  mode 
of  speech.  One  would  think  him  an  itiner- 
ant minister,  holding  forth  to  his  flock  of  "- 

"Silence!  you  dog,"  growled  the  Major, 
"know  your  betters,  or  I'll  stretch  you  on 
the  wheel."  Then  he  beckoned  to  an  orderly 
who  stood  nigh  the  steps  of  the  house  and 
in  a  moment  the  Corporal  was  led  away  to 
be  scraped  and  scrubbed. 

Barren  and  myself  were  then  introduced 


224  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

to  Colonel  Henry,  Woodford,  and  other 
officers  in  the  group,  after  which  we  were 
left  to  ourselves  to  discuss  more  or  less 
learnedly  the  probable  outcome  of  affairs  in 
the  colonies,  while  the  older  *men  went  back 
to  their  duties.  I  knew  little  or  nothing 
about  military  organization,  so  when  the 
talk  drifted  into  certain  channels  I  with- 
held my  speech.  Before  we  left,  however, 
Barron  and  I  had  been  assigned  volunteer 
positions;  he  as  captain  of  a  company  of 
farmers,  and  I  as  a  lieutenant  in  it,  all 
under  the  command  of  Major  Bullbeggor, 
who,  in  turn,  belonged  to  Colonel  Bullet's 
regiment.  Rank  was  a  pretty  hard  thing 
to  determine  in  those  days,  for  nearly  every- 
body was  addressed  as  "Colonel"  or  "Major," 


RICHARD  JUDKHSTS'  WOOING  225 

no  matter  what  they  were  in  reality.  Be- 
sides this,  there  were  several  jealous  men 
in  the  Richmond  assembly  who  pretended 
to  doubt  Colonel  Henry's  military  ability, 
and  for  a  long  time  I  believed  Colonel 
Woodford  in  command. 

The  brave  and  gallant  Bullet,  however, 
took  the  place  assigned  him  without  a  word, 
as  did  Bullbeggor,  Barron  and  myself,  and 
we  strove  to  get  some  discipline  into  the 
hunters  and  farmers  who  made  up  our  rank 
and  file. 

Gibson's  Lambs,  as  his  command  of  wild 
men  were  called,  were  almost  beyond  the 
reach  of  discipline,  and  were  little  better 
than  Indians,  so  at  one  time  Colonel  Wood- 
ford  was  strongly  tempted  to  disband  the 


226  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

whole  outfit,  but  later  on  they  began  to 
show  signs  of  intelligence  and  were  kept  in 
ranks. 

We  drilled  and  drilled,  day  after  day, 
until  finally  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  head- 
ing a  poorly  armed,  but  fairly  well  organ- 
ized, set  of  men. 

During  this  period  we  had  several  times 
had  news  of  Berkley  Harrison.  He  and  my 
sister  were  apparently  married  and  living 
happily  together  at  Norfolk,  but  strange  to 
say  not  a  letter  or  word  came  direct  from 
either  of  them.  Of  Will  Byrd  and  Sam 
there  had  been  no  trace  since  they  went 
aboard  the  frigate  the  evening  I  left  the 
Hall.  Barron  sent  several  messengers  to 
Norfolk  to  find  out  their  whereabouts,  but 
to  no  purpose. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  227 

Whenever  I  had  time  to  spare  from  the 
camp,  I  usually  came  over  to  see  my  mother 
and  cousin  Marion.  Miss  Carter  had  seldom 
put  in  appearance  until  the  day  Snake  in 
the  Grass  brought  the  news  of  Harrison  and 
my  sister  living  so  happily  together.  Then 
her  manner  toward  me  instantly  changed, 
and  instead  of  being  out  of  sight  she  always 
put  in  appearance  whenever  I  called  at  my 
aunt's  house,  This  amused  me  not  a  little, 
but  I  was  not  ready  to  indulge  her  whims 
too  quickly,  so  I  put  off  matters  until  I 
finally  became  so  entangled  with  my  pretty 
cousin  that  I  was  on  the  point  of  doing 
something  foolish.  But  sometimes  unfor- 
seen  incidents  happen  that  pull  a  man  out 
of  a  drifting  current. 


228  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

One  evening  my  cousin  was  not  feeling 
well,  so  Miss  Carter  and  I  took  a  long  walk 
around  the  encampment  and  visited  Lord 
Dunmore's  deserted  palace.  As  we  walked 
along  the  sound  of  a  nigger  singing  arrested 
our  attention.  It  was  Snake's  voice,  and 
his  deep  bass  notes  rang  weirdly  through 
the  gathering  darkness.  Snake  had  a 
strange  habit  of  fitting  all  his  feelings  into 
song,  and  now  he  sang  in  deep  mournful 
notes 

"Dere  is  trouble  ober  heah 

An'  dere's  trouble  ober  dar-r 
An'  I  really  do  believe  dere's  trouble  everywhar-r 
Trouble,  troub-11 
Trouble,  troub-11 
Oh  dere's  trouble  on  de  ol'  man's  mine." 

We  tried  to  stop  him  as  he  rode  past  us, 
but  he  pretended  not  to  see  or  hear  us,  and 
rode  away  in  the  direction  of  the  Major's 
quarters. 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  229 

"Snake  has  a  sorrowful  mood  upon  him 
this  evening,"  said  Miss  Carter,  after  the 
singing  had  died  away  in  the  distance. 

"And  by  the  same  token,  I  reckon,  there's 
some  bad  news  ahead,"  I  answered,  "and 
we  might  as  well  go  to  the  Major's  and  find 
it  out." 

When  we  reached  there,  we  found  that 
orders  had  just  come  for  us  to  move  to  Nor- 
folk and  take  part  in  the  operations  against 
the  British.  I  was  glad  the  news  was  no 
worse,  and  I  must  say  I  felt  a  great  relief, 
in  spite  of  those  I  must  leave  behind  me. 

This  was  my  last  evening  to  spend  with 
my  people,  and  I  determined  to  know  my 
fate  in  a  certain  direction,  so  I  recalled  a 
few  things  to  Miss  Carter  that  had  passed 
between  us, 


230  RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

"My  dear  Dick,"  she  said,  "you  have  a 
most  charming  cousin.  Why  don't  you 
marry  her  ? " 

"In  the  first  place,  she  would  not  marry 
me  ;  and  in  the  second,  she  is  hardly  to  my 
way  of  thinking,"  I  replied. 

"But  you  might  alter  your  thoughts  and 
ask  her ;  she  is  pretty,  wealthy,  and  a  lady 
born,"  said  Miss  Carter. 

"So  was  your  grandmother,"  I  replied, 
"but  that  fact  does  not  presuppose  any  love 
for  her  on  my  part,  charming  as  she  still  is. 
You  also  have  the  qualities  you  have  just 
mentioned,  and  you,  you  only,  do  I,  or  can 
I  ever  love." 

"If  that  is  so,  I  shall  be  blessed  with  a 
most  stupid  husband,"  said  Rose— and  that 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  231 

was  all.  I  bade  her  good-night  at  my 
aunt's  front  door  and  I  think,  or  rather 
hope,  it  was  quite  dark.  Then  I  went  on 
my  way  whistling,  as  happy  as  a  boy. 

The  days  that  followed  in  the  mud  and 
rain  near  Norfolk,  were  disheartening 
enough,  but  I  never  for  an  instant  de- 
spaired. My  whole  life  seemed  filled  with  a 
great  coming  joy,  and  even  old  soldiers  like 
Barron  and  Bullbeggor  wondered  at  my 
never-failing  spirits.  There  were  nearly  a 
thousand  of  us,  badly  armed  and  half-frozeia 
men,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Wood- 
ford,  camped  at  the  end  of  the  causeway 
known  as  Great  Bridge.  It  was  December, 
and  the  weaker  men  fell  away  rapidly,  until 
there  were  scarcely  two  hundred  able  rifle- 


232  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

men  left  in  the  trenches  on  the  night  of  the 
eighth. 

I  was  lying  in  my  tent  on  this  night,  lis- 
tening to  the  rain  and  thinking  happy 
thoughts  of  the  joys  in  store  for  me  when  I 
should  return  to  the  Hall  and  marry  the 
beautiful  girl  I  loved.  Barron  slept  with 
me  and  was  snoring  away  at  a  great  rate 
for  it  was  long  past  midnight.  I  had  just 
made  up  my  mind  to  cease  building  air- 
castles  and  follow  his  example,  and  had 
fastened  the  tent  flies  and  stretched  myself 
out  comfortably  in  my  wet  blanket,  when  a 
noise  outside  startled  me. 

It  sounded  like  the  stealthy  tread  of  some- 
one bent  on  a  secret  purpose,  which,  at  this 
hour  and  place,  would  probably  be  anything 
but  good. 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  233 

I  reached  carefully  for  my  pistol  and 
noiselessly  cocked  back  the  flint,  and  then 
stared  through  the  inky  darkness  toward 
the  tent  fly.  I  lay  listening  for  a  moment 
or  two  longer  and  then  was  aware  of  some- 
thing moving  under  the  canvas  at  my  side. 
In  an  instant  I  clapped  the  muzzle  of  my 
pistol  to  it  and  called  out,  "Stop  !  " 

"For  God's  sake,  take  your  pistol  away 
and  let  me  in,  quick ! "  said  a  well  known 
voice,  and  the  next  instant  Will  Byrd  was 
inside  the  tent.  Another  form  followed  his 
and  for  a  moment  I  was  almost  smothered 
by  Sam's  embrace. 

"What  time  is  it?"  asked  Will,  quickly. 

"  Not  quite  three,  I  believe,"  I  answered. 
"But  for  heaven's  sake,  how  did  you  get"— 


234  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"Hurry,  then,  we  have  just  about  time," 
interrupted  Will,  paying  no  attention  to  my 
question.  "They  attack  you  at  daylight. 
We  have  just  escaped,  and  came  through 
the  swamp  to  avoid  being  taken  by  these 
farmers  and  held  until  too  late  "— 

"Hello!  What's  the  matter?  Who's  that? " 
cried  Barron,  starting  up  from  his  blanket. 

"Will  and  Sam,"  I  said,  "They've  just 
come  over.  The  grenadier  company  from 
the  fort  will  be  on  the  causeway  in  an  hour," 
And  in  less  than  a  minute  all  of  us  were  on 
our  way  to  Colonel  Woodford's  tent  to  tell 
him  the  news. 

Little  noise  was  made  as  we  gathered  our 
men  at  the  end  of  the  causeway,  and  as  we 
hurried  about  Will  told  me,  between  breaths 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  235 

that  ray  sister  Mary  and  Harrison  were  liv- 
ing in  the  town  of  Norfolk  where  Will  had 
been  held  close  prisoner  until  an  hour  or  two 
before.  He  had  failed  to  gain  the  good  will 
of  the  governor  on  going  back  to  the  frigate 
after  our  flight,  and  both  he  and  Sam  were 
closely  confined.  As  soon  as  Sam  was  able 
to  work,  he  was  taken  out  and  sent,  with 
a  lot  of  other  captured  slaves,  to  help 
strengthen  the  fortifications  of  the  town. 

Here  he  heard  the  news  of  the  proposed 
attack  and  managed  to  liberate  Will  and 
escape  with  him  in  time  to  warn  us. 

"When  was  Mary  married,  and  at  what 
church?"  I  asked  breathlessly. 

But  Will  suddenly  turned  away  and  did 
not  answer  and,  taking  an  old  musket  from 


2S6  KICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

a  farmer,  pretended  to  be  busily  engaged  in 
fixing  the  flint. 

I  was  working  hard  with  my  men,  trying 
to  get  an  old  twelve  pounder  into  position 
to  sweep  the  bridge,  but  the  wheels  of  its 
carriage  were  so  rotten  and  stuck  so  deeply 
in  the  mud,  that  they  finally  broke  down 
completely,  leaving  the  gun  useless. 

As  the  gray  dawn  of  the  winter  morning 
deepened,  objects  began  to  grow  more  dis- 
tinct. We  shivered  in  our  wet  clothes  and 
strained  our  eyes  in  the  direction  of  the  fort 
that  covered  the  farthest  approach  to  Great 
Bridge. 

Something  moved  in  the  dim  distance. 

Slowly  and  surely  it  drew  nearer,  and  then 
we  saw  the  head  of  the  British  column  com- 
ing silently  over  the  long  causeway. 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  237 

I  shook  from  head  to  foot  with  cold  and 
excitement,  and  was  so  ashamed  because  I 
did  so,  I  felt  like  doing  something  foolish  to 
prove  my  courage.  It  was  very  trying  to 
stand  there  on  that  cold,  wet  morning  and 
not  even  speak  above  a  whisper,  or  move 
more  than  a  foot  or  two,  while  that  column, 
with  a  company  of  grenadiers  in  the  van, 
made  its  way  to  within  speaking  distance 
of  us. 

The  enemy  was  so  close  that,  even  in  that 
bad  light,  the  features  of    the   men  were 

easily  distinguished,  and  their  hard,  bronzed 

/ 
faces   looked    strangely  fierce  from  under 

their  tall  grenadier  hats.    Then  a  nervous 
rifleman  on  my  left  blazed  off  his  priming, 

and  the  next  instant  a  hundred  rifles  rang 


238  BICHABD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

out  from  the  breastworks  into  a  deep,  rolling 
roar. 

The  head  of  the  column  seemed  to  melt 
away  like  an  icicle  in  the  sunshine.  Men 
pitched  over  each  other  in  a  tangled  heap  of 
guns,  arms  and  legs.  But  the  rest  behind 
them  came  steadily  onward,  firing  together 
in  volleys  that  sounded  like  a  single  report. 

Our  line  fairly  flamed  with  rifle  flashes, 
and  the  men  yelled  and  shouted  at  each  dis- 
charge, until  the  blending  of  yells  and  mus- 
ket firing  became  almost  deafening. 

Suddenly  the  column  wavered.  Then 
backward  it  went  and  appeared  almost  on 
the  point  of  breaking.  Officers  waved  tneir 
swords  and  shouted  furiously  at  the  men, 
and  like  the  gallant  soldiers  they  were,  they 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOmg  289 

closed  up  and  came  onward  again  with  a 
scorching  fire  that  seemed  to  fairly  fill  the 
air  with  flying  lead. 

A  bullet  cut  the  coon-skin  cap  from  the 
head  of  an  old  hunter  at  my  elbow,  but  he 
never  even  winced,  and  coolly  bit  the  end  off 
his  cartridge  and  rammed  the  lead  home  as 
if  making  ready  to  fire  at  a  target. 

They  were  within  twenty  paces  of  us  now, 
and  I  fired  my  pistols  with  the  certain 
knowledge  that  the  bullets  would  strike 
within  an  inch  of  the  spot  at  which  I  aimed. 
The  officer  leading  the  grenadiers  sprang 
forward  upon  the  breastwork,  gave  a  shout 
to  his  men,  and  then,  waving  his  sword,  he 
brought  it  down  with  a  sweep  at  my  head. 
He  was  a  brave  fellow,  and  I  did  not  know 


240  EICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

it  was  Fordyce  until  after  my  pistol  bullet 
had  passed  through  his  body  and  he  had 
rolled  back  among  his  men. 

It  was  now  almost  hand  to  hand  fighting, 
and  the  hot  blasts  of  the  muskets,  firing  in 
our  faces,  scorched  the  skin  and  blinded  us 
so  that  nothing  could  be  seen  a  few  feet  dis- 
tant, but  we  had  the  advantage  of  only  hav- 
ing to  expose  our  faces,  whereas  the  enemy 
had  to  stand  to  it  in  full  view. 

I  saw  Colonel  Woodford  ride  past  the  line 
within  a  foot  of  me,  sitting  his  horse  easily 
in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  but  he  remained 
untouched. 

The  fight  raged  fiercely,  but  our  men  re- 
fused to  be  dislodged.  The  grenadiers  were 
forced  backward  on  the  causeway,  where 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  241 

they  rallied  upon  the  tory  infantry  coming 
to  their  support,  and  in  a  moment  the  smoke 
cleared  away  enough  to  see  them  forming 
for  another  desperate  charge. 

Again  and  again  did  they  storm  that  line 
of  riflemen,  and  each  time  they  were  re- 
pulsed and  forced  onto  the  causeway. 
Then,  with  great  precision,  they  closed  up 
and  drew  away,  firing  steadily  as  they  went, 
the  tory  infantry  leading. 

A  great  shout  went  up  from  our  victorious 
soldiers,  and  Colonel  Bullet  leaped,  sword  in 
hand,  over  the  breastworks  and  called  for 
the  men  to  follow  him.  Bullbeggor  pushed 
forward  on  the  right,  and  led  half  a  score 
of  men  onto  the  causeway,  but  the  British 
fired  so  steadily,  and  kept  their  formation 


242  RICHARD   JUDKINS'    WOOING 

so  well,  that  Colonel  Woodford  would  not 
risk  any  mishap  to  mar  so  grand  a  victory. 
The  men  were  recalled,  in  spite  of  the 
gallant  Bullet's  protests,  but  the  rifle  fire 
was  kept  up  from  the  breastwork  until  the 
enemy  was  well  across  and  out  of  range. 
All  along  the  line  of  that  long  causeway 
they  dropped  from  the  ranks  before  the 
murderous  fire  of  those  Virginians,  and 
when  they  at  last  gained  the  protection  of 
the  guns  of  their  fort  on  the  other  side, 
there  was  not  one  grenadier  left  unhit. 
The  rest  of  them  broke  and  became  a  dis- 
organized mob,  making  for  shelter  where 
it  could  be  found,  while  the  way  now  being 
clear  the  fort  opened  a  heavy  fire  that  soon 
kept  our  men  under  cover. 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING  243 

When  I  had  time  to  look  about  me  I  was 
astonished  at  the  small  number  of  our 
wounded.  In  that  hot  fire  it  seemed  to  me 
that  nearly  everyone  must  get  hit.  But 
the  poor  light  and  breastworks  had  saved 
us  many  lives,  and  our  victory  was  not 
robbed  of  its  joy  by  the  presence  of  many 
dead  and  wounded  comrades.  Not  over  a 
score  of  our  men  were  hit,  and  only  a  few 
of  these  casualties  resulted  fatally.  Barren 

had  his  coat  cut  in  three  places  by  balls,  for 
he  had  exposed  himself  unnecessarily,  and 
Bullbeggor  had  lost  his  hat  and  was  bleed- 
ing from  a  scratch  on  his  forehead  where  a 
grenadier  had  made  a  pass  at  him  with  his 
bayonet  and  then  fired.  The  steel  had  cut 
the  skin,  but  the  bullet  had  missed  and  the 


244  RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING 

discharge  had  blackened  the  Major's  face 
until    it    was    the   color  of   his    servant's. 

Snake  wished  to  attend  his  master,  but  the 
Major  waved  him  back  and  insisted  on  tak- 
ing no  notice  of  his  hurt.  He  stalked  up 
and  down  the  line  of  men,  with  his  drawn 
sword  held  before  him,  stopping  now  and 
then  to  see  that  a  rifle  was  properly  primed, 
or  that  the  men  did  not  flinch  too  much 
from  the  artillery  fire  and  become  dis- 
organized in  case  of  a  renewal  of  the  attack. 
Finally  the  fire  of  the  fort  slacked  up,  and 
then  ceased  altogether,  and  we  were  able 
to  go  about  unmolested.  Twenty  dead 
grenadiers  lay  piled  up  at  our  end  of  the 
causeway,  their  red  coats  stained  with  blood 
and  dirt.  Then,  as  the  fever  of  the  fight 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  246 

died  away  in  our  veins,  we  looked  out  upon 
those  silent  corpses  and  began  to  realize  the 
grim  glory  of  war.  Will  joined  me  then 
and  we  shook  hands  silently  over  our  suc- 
cess, and  afterwards  we  started  to  do  what 
we  could  for  our  wounded  men. 


CHAPTER  XI 

Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Great  Bridge 
the  British  evacuated  Norfolk,  and  we 
followed  hard  upon  their  heels.  Will  and  I 
happened  to  be  together  in  the  company 
that  first  entered  the  town,  and  we  had 
some  hot  skirmishing  before  we  got  well 
into  the  streets. 

He  had  told  me  little  in  regard  to  Harrison 
and  my  sister,  but  his  sad  face  and  silent 
manner  spoke  plainer  than  words  the 
thoughts  which  were  uppermost  in  his 
mind.  Since  the  morning  he  crawled  into 
my  tent  I  had  refrained  from  asking  any 
more  questions. 

(246) 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'    WOOING  247 

We  had  become  separated  from  our  men 
in  a  smart  rally  about  a  tory  house,  whose 
inhabitants  had  fired  upon  us  and  then  fled, 
but  Will  continued  to  lead  the  way  rapidly 
through  the  main  streets  toward  that  por- 
tion of  the  city  where  resided  the  most 
prominent  followers  of  Lord  Dunmore. 

Even  as  we  appeared  in  the  streets  people 
fled  towards  the  water  front,  where  the 
boats  of  the  men  of  war  were  plying  back 
and  forth,  taking  the  fugitives  aboard  in 
great  numbers.  Suddenly  Will  stopped  at  a 
corner  and  looked  sharply  across  the  street 
at  a  house  whose  closed  blinds  gave  it  a  de- 
serted appearance. 

Almost  instantly  the  front  door  opened 
and  Berkley  Harrison  walked  out.  He  saw 


248  RICHARD  JUDKIN3'   WOOING 

us  and  turned  towards  us  for  an  instant; 
then  bowing  politely  he  made  his  way  down 
the  street. 

"Stop!  Hold  on! "  I  cried,  and  I  ran  across 
to  intercept  him.  "Wait  a  moment,  you 
have  something  to  tell  me,"  I  continued  as  I 
caught  up  with  him. 

For  answer  he  drew  his  sword  and  stood 
on  guard.  Will  stood  silently  watching  us. 

"Hold  on!"  I  cried.  "Where  is  Mary? 
What  do  you  mean  by  that  ? "  and  I  pointed 
to  his  drawn  weapon. 

"Miss  Judkinsis  upstairs,"  he  said  coldly, 
and  he  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height, 
while  that  scornful  smile  I  knew  so  well 
curled  his  lips.  "If  you  wish  to  see  her," 
he  continued,  "you  will  probably  find  her 
at  home." 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  249 

"But,  Berk,"  I  cried,  "tell  me,  are  you 
married,  and  is  she  going  with  you  ?  It's 
but  a  step  to  the  frigate's  boat  and  our  men 
will  not  come  much  closer.  Tell  me  all 
about  it,  and  h  ow  you  intend  to  care  for  my 
sister  ? " 

"You  will  have  to  excuse  me,  Mr.  Jud- 
kins,"  said  he.  "I  am  not  afraid  of  your 
men,  but  every  loyal  man  has  left  this  town, 
and  I  must  catch  the  last  boat  to  the  frigate, 
where  I  have  business  of  importance  to  at- 
tend to." 

Then  I  realized  the  horrible  truth  that  had 
begun  to  gain  upon  me  since  I  noticed  Will's 
suspicious  lack  of  knowledge  of  Harrison's 
affairs.  I  was  satisfied  that  Will  had  heard 
the  true  rumor  of  the  affair,  while  he  was 


250  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

confined  in  prison,  and  now  my  wrath  swelled 
beyond  my  control  and  burst  forth. 

"You  damned  villian,"  I  said,  almost  in 
a  whisper,  and  I  had  my  sword  before  me. 

We  went  at  it;  I  with  my  blood  afire,  he 
with  the  coolness  of  a  born  villain,  who 
neither  feared  nor  cared  for  anything. 

The  rasping  ring  of  sliding  steel  and  the 
noise  of  our  shuffling  feet  were  heard  in  the 
room  above  us,  for  in  a  moment  a  shutter 
clanged  open  against  the  wall,  and  I  heard 
my  sister's  voice  shriek  in  dismay. 

I  turned  my  head  partially  to  try  and  see 
her  face  and  slipped  on  the  wet  pavement. 
Then  I  felt  something  like  a  bar  of  hot  iron 
passing  through   me  and    Harrison's  cold 
villainous  face  was  close  to  mine.    There 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  251 

was  a  sickening  catching  of  the  breath,  but 
I  sat  my  teeth  hard  as  the  scoundrel  with- 
drew his  weapon.  Then  I  reeled  and  fell  to 
the  pavement. 

But  I  would  not  go,  quite.  Everything 
seemed  to  whirl  around  me,  but  I  drew  my 
right  hand  pistol  and  cocked  back  the  flint 
with  fast  weakening  fingers.  Harrison  ap- 
peared in  a  fog,  and  to  be  going  up  a  steep 
hill  close  to  me,  and  then  suddenly  to  be  de- 
scending a  frightful  declivity  as  I  raised  my 
weapon  slowly.  The  pavement  seemed  to 
heave  upward  again,  and  I  marked  the  look 
on  his  craven  features — for  he  knew  what 
he  was  facing— and  I  pulled  the  trigger  with 
the  sight  on  his  heart. 

At    that    instant    something    struck   the 


252  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

weapon  from  my  hand,  and  I  was  aware 
of  Will  Byrd  standing  over  me  with  his 
sword  outstretched. 

I  was  going  fast,  but  I  drew  my  left  pistol. 
Harrison  was  still  standing  near  me,  but 
appeared  to  be  double.  I  fired  into  him  but 
an  object  seemed  to  pass  between  us  and 
something  fell  heavily  to  the  pavement. 

Then  I  thought  I  saw  the  villain  sheath 
his  sword  and  bow  to  me,  with  that  same 
sneering  smile  on  his  face,  and  pass  away 
out  of  sight  down  the  long  street.  I  tried 
to  raise  myself  to  follow  him  and  got  to  my 
knees,  then  I  pitched  forward — 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  I  regained 
consciousness,  and  found  myself  lying  on  a 
cot  in  a  house  which  appeared  to  be  an 
improvised  hospital,  as  there  were  many 


EICHAED  JUDKINS'  WOOING  253 

wounded  men  about  me.  A  wet  compress 
lay  upon  my  chest  and  each  breath  I  took 
caused  me  sharp  pain.  I  looked  at  the  cot 
next  to  mine  and  noticed  a  familiar  figure 
reclining  there,  and  as  I  did  so  it  sat  up. 
Then  I  recognized  Will  Byrd,  but  could  not 
tell  how  either  he  or  I  came  to  be  where  we 
were. 

He  saw  my  eyes  open,  and  gazed  sadly 
and  thoughtfully  at  me;  then  he  spoke. 

"How  is  it  Dick,  do  you  feel  better?"  he 
asked. 

" Yes,"  I  whispered,  " are  you  hurt  too?" 

"No,  why?" 

"What  are  you  lying  there  for?  "  Then  I 
suddenly  remembered.  "Where's  Harrison?" 
I  asked  faintly,  as  the  affair  came  back  to 
me. 


254:  RICHAKD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

Will  looked  thoughtfully  at  me  without 
speaking,  and  the  expression  of  deep  sadness 
came  over  his  face  again. 

"Where  is  he?"  I  whispered. 

"  His  body  was  thrown  into  a  trench  with 
some  others  outside  the  town,"  answered 
Will. 

"Then  you  killed  him?  Or  was  it  a  dream, 
what? "  I  gasped. 

"Don't  try  to  talk,  Dick.  You  remember 
you  shot  him,  don't  you?  hit  him  through 
the  body.  I  knocked  your  first  pistol  away, 
for  your  sister's  sake,  but  you  fired  again 
before  I  could  stop  you.  Don't  talk  any 
more  and  you  will  come  out  all  right. 

"There's  not  much  dream  about  the  whole 
business,  I  only  wish  there  was." 


CHAPTER  XII 

The  evacuation  of  Norfolk  by  the  British 
practically  ended  the  war  for  a  time  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  Dun  more  soon  sailed  away  never 
to  return. 

In  a  couple  of  weeks  I  was  on  my  feet 
again,  very  little  the  worse  for  the  wound 
Harrison  had  given  me. 

Will  had  been  with  me  all  the  time  and 
Barron  and  the  Major  spent  nearly  all  their 
spare  hours  in  the  hospital. 

The  companies  had  now  begun  to  disband, 
that  is  all  except  those  who  volunteered  to 
join  Washington's  army  at  the  north. 

Colonel  Woodford  gave  over  his  command 

(255) 


256  RICHARD  JCDKINS'   WOOING 

to  Colonel  Howe,  of  North  Carolina,  and 
after  that  he  did  little  else  than  receive  the 
praise  he  had  so  well  earned.  Everywhere 
he  was  feted  and  applauded,  until  even  the 
tories  began  to  come  over  to  his  way  of 
thinking. 

My  company  broke  up  and  the  men  either 
went  home  or  joined  other  commands,  and  I 
was  given  indefinite  leave  on  account  of  my 
wound.  Will,  who  held  no  commission, 
made  ready  to  go  with  me  to  Judkins'  Hall 

Now  that  the  fighting  was  over,  Major 
Bullbeggor  appeared  to  suffer  acutely,  and  I 
made  up  my  mind  that  the  only  thing  that 
would  save  the  old  soldier's  life  would  be  for 
him  to  join  the  army  in  the  north. 

"It's  no  use,  Dick,  my  boy,"  said  he,  the 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  257 

day  before  I  left  him.  "  I  have  these  pains 
a'  shooting  all  through  me  and  a  vertigris 
in  the  skull.  Why,  I  wouldn't  be  able  to 
stand  anything  in  that  cold  climate.  This 
twitching  of  the  nerves  and  numbing  of  the 
bones  certainly  means  disintsgration,  sir; 
yes,  sir,  it  certainly  does  mean  something. 
Go  and  get  married,  Dick,  and  try  to  get 
Will  to  join  the  army  in  the  north.  He  will 
make  a  splendid  soldier,  for  there's  nothing 
so  desperate  and  dangerous  in  a  fight  as  a 
man  crossed  in  love." 

"But,  Major,"  I  said,  "you  know  the 
army  needs  just  such  men  as  you  to  guide 
them  in  military  affairs.  It's  your  duty  to 
go  where  your  country  calls  for  you  when 
you  are  a  soldier." 


258  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

"I  have  a  wife  and  six  young  children, 
Dick,  all  of  them  mostly  ailing.  I've  tried 
Miranda  Jones'  spring  medicine,  and  all  of 
them  have  had  Dr.  McGuire  bleed  them  until 
they  could  stand  it  no  longer,  but  it  didn't 
do  any  good.  They  are  all  dependent  on  me. 
Who  would  pay  for  their  medicines  if  I 
should  happen  to  fall  ill  and  die  ? " 

"  They  would  probably  be  much  better  off 
if  such  an  accident  did  happen  to  you,"  I 
answered,  laughing.  "It's  about  time  you 
let  them  alone.  I  certainly  think  you  ought 
to  volunteer,  or  better  still,  raise  a  company 
with  Will  and  myself  in  it.  Then,  with 
Sam  and  Snake  to  look  out  for  us,  we  might 
operate  to  some  advantage." 

"Til  think  of  it,  Dick.     I'll  think  of  it, 


RICHARD   JUDKINS'  WOOING  259 

but  I  must  go  now  to  headquarters.  Good- 
bye ! "  And  his  lean  hand  closed  upon  mine 
with  a  hearty  grip.  Then  he  took  the  bridle 
of  his  mare  from  Snake  and  vaulted  lightly 
into  the  saddle.  In  a  moment  he  and  his 
servant  had  disappeared  around  the  corner 
of  the  street. 

I  wended  my  way  to  the  house  where  Will 
and  I  were  stopping  and  made  ready  for  our 
journey. 

The  next  day  about  dusk  we  landed  at  the 
Hall. 

Of  course  it  is  needless  for  me  to  say  much 
about  our  welcome,  but  my  poor  mother's 
joy  at  seeing  us  again  was  nothing  to  her 
sorrow  when  Will  had  told  the  painful  de- 
tails of  my  affair  with  Harrison.  After 


260  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

Miss  Carter  heard  the  details  of  the  fight 
she  appeared  tc  regard  me  with  secret  horror 
for  a  few  days,  but  then  I  knew  all  women 
were  much  set  against  violence. 

"But  where  is  Mary  now?"  my  mother 
asked  of  Will,  after  she  had  regained  her- 
self. 

"Nothing  could  induce  her  to  remain  in 
sight  of  Dick,"  said  Will,  "so  she  sailed  for 
England  on  one  of  Duumore's  vessels  the 
day  we  entered  Norfolk."  And  that  was 
the  last  time  I  ever  heard  him  mention  my 
sister's  name  for  years. 

Rose  was  not  a  very  joyous  bride  a  couple 
of  weeks  later,  but  her  tenderness  and 
thoughtfulness  made  up  for  the  lack  of 
passionate  love,  which  I  felt  sure  she  would 


BICHABD  JUDKINS'  WOOING  261 

develop  as  the  years  went  by,  and  the 
memory  of  Harrison  faded  from  her  mind. 
One  day,  about  a  month  after  we  were 
married,  I  went  to  the  stables  to  see  about 
my  horses  getting  their  salt  properly.  As  I 
stood  at  the  stable  window,  looking  out 
towards  the  slave  quarters,  I  saw  Will  Byrd 
standing  at  the  curve  of  the  carriage  drive, 
gazing  steadily  at  a  slave  woman  who  held 
a  shining  black  pickaninny  in  her  arms. 
The  slave  woman  sat  under  a  tree  and 
dangled  some  plaything  over  the  child's 
face  and  crooned  to  it.  The  day  was  cold, 
and  I  thought  it  strange  that  the  woman 
should  sit  there  with  the  child,  even  though 
the  little  thing  was  carefully  wrapped  up  in 
a  shawl. 


262  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

Will  was  evidently  to  my  way  of  think- 
ing, for  he  gazed  steadily  at  the  child,  and 
that  strange  look  of  deep  sadness  came  over 
his  face  like  I  had  noticed  before  in  the 
hospital  at  Norfolk.  Then  he  turned  and 
walked  slowly  away,  with  his  eyes  cast 
upon  the  ground  in  front  of  him.  Rose, 
who  always  looks  after  the  people,  then 
came  out  of  the  house  and  went  straight 
toward  the  slave  woman.  She  was  evi- 
dently much  upset  at  her  carelessness  in 
exposing  the  child  so  long  to  the  weather, 
for  she  bent  tenderly  over  it  and  kissed  it, 
and  then  sent  the  woman  away. 

Ten  minutes  later,  while  I  was  walking 
through  the  grounds,  attending  to  some 
necessary  repairs,  I  saw  the  woman  again, 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  263 

sitting  now  on  the  low  stone  fence  that 
separated  mine  from  the  now  deserted 
Harrison  plantation.  I  walked  up  to  her 
and  reproved  her  sharply  for  keeping  a  year 
old  child  out  so  long  in  such  cold  weather. 

"  What  is  its  name  ? "  I  asked. 

"Marse  Berk  Harrison,"  she  answered. 

"Let  me  see  him,"  I  said,  and  I  took  hold 
of  the  child's  arm  to  see  if  he  was  good  and 
fat.  It  was  a  common  practice  to  name 
slave  children  after  the  families  to  whom 
they  belonged.  Then  I  pinched  the  child's 
fat  cheeks  and  a  lot  of  black  stuff,  like 
burnt  cork,  came  off  on  my  hand,  showing 
a  white  skin  beneath  it. 

"Is  he  white?"  I  asked  in  astonishment. 

"  Oh,  yes,  Marse  Judkins,  he's  white,  but 


264  RICHARD   JUDKINS'   WOOING 

we  keeps  him  black,  'cause  I  has  to  take 
him  so  much  with  me  to  the  quarters  at  the 
Hall." 

"Who  is  his  mother?" 

'"Deed  I  don't  know,  Marse  Judkins 
Poor  Miss  Jude  Berry  over  to  the  forks,  I 
believe,  but  she's  daid  now  this  year  gone- 
no  two,  last  month — but  her  folks  give  him 
to  me  to  raise,  'cause  I  lives  at  his  uncles, 
an'  they  tole  me  to  keep  him  black  till  he 
able  to  shift  for  hisself." 

"Don't  bring  him  to  my  quarters  again, '» 
I  said,  and  I  handed  her  two  pieces  of  gold. 
That  is  all.  Perhaps  it  is  enough.  The 
whole  horrible  truth  dawned  upon  me  and 
I  staggered  away. 

A  week  later  Will  insisted  that  he  had 


RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING  265 

stayed  out  his  visit  at  the  Hall,  and  would 
join  the  army  for  the  campaign  against  the 
British  on  Long  Island,  near  New  York. 
The  same  day  Major  Bullbeggor  sent  me  an 
express  that  he  would  stop  at  the  Hall  and 
get  Will  and  myself  to  help  organize  a  com 
pany  for  Washington's  army.  He  and 
Barron  rode  in  a  little  later,  accompanied 
by  Snake  in  the  Grass.  The  Major's  face 
was  most  peculiarily  marked  and  tattooed 
by  the  explosion  of  the  grenadier's  musket 
at  the  Great  Bridge  fight,  and  my  mother 
hardly  recognized  him. 

We  made  our  preparations  for  departure 
within  a  few  hours,  and,  accompanied  by 
Sam  and  Snake,  rode  away  from  the  Hall. 

All  the  field  hands  were  grouped  at  the 


266  RICHARD  JUDKINS'   WOOING 

end  of  the  carriage  drive  to  wish  us  good-bye, 
while  my  sweet  wife  Rose  and  poor  mother 

stood  on  the  verandah  and  bade  us  a  tearful 
farewell.  God  knows  how  my  heart  went 

out  to  that  dear  wife,  as  I  saw  her  standing 
there  with  the  sunshine  playing  on  her  hair 
and  her  eyes  moist.  But  she  smiled  bravely 
and  waved  her  handkerchief  to  us,  and 
Snake  nodded  furiously  in  return  until  we 
rode  slowly  out  of  sight. 


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MISS  DKVEKEUX  OF  THE  BIARIOU1TA.  By  R.  II.  Savage. 

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HOW  WOMEN  LOVE.    By  Max  Nordau. 

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A  DAUGHTER  OF  THE  KING.    By  Alien. 

FOR  LIFE  AND  LOVE.    By  Richard  Henry  Savage. 

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ILIFE  AND  SERMONS  OF  DAVID  SWING. 

THE  MASKED  VENUS.    By  Richard  Henry  Savage. 

THE  FALLEN  RACE.    By  Austyn  GranviUe. 

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